1 


i 


630. 15 

W85wa    WOOD  (WALTER  A.)  MOWING 
AND  REAPING  MACHINE  CO. 

THE  WALTER  A.  WOOD  SELF-BINDING 
HARVESTER 


ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY, 


SELF-BINDING    HARVESTER    CIRCULAR. 


la'za. 


ESTABLISHED   1863. 


IBT^S- 


tr^"  ——■■-■*■  f  "Ti  —rr. 


Mowing  &  Reaping  M  achin  e  Co., 


Exclusive  Manufacturers  of  the 


WORLD-RENOWNED 


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'litlir 


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HoosicK  Falls,  N.  Y 


GENERAL  WESTERN  OFFICE: 


No/  80    Taylor    Street,    Chicago,    Illinois. 


Address  WALTER   A.  WOOD,    President. 


:fo:e^   sale   by 


ANDEESOU  &  HOLLEHBECK 
DELEVAIT,    ILLS. 


S' 


FOR  THE  HARVEST  OF 


WE  SHALL  OFFER   TO  THE  FARMING  COMMUNITY: 

Wood's  Improved  Iron  Mower  for  Two  Horses,  4  ft.  3  inch  cut 

Wood's  Improved  Iron  Mower  for  Two  Horses,  4  ft.  6  inch  cut, 

Wood's  Improved  Iron  Mower  for  One  Horse,  3  ft.  6  inch  cut. 

Wood's  Mower,  with  Manual  Delivery  Reaping  Attachment,  4  ft.  6  inch  cut. 

Wood's  Improved  Sweep-Rake  Reaper,  Senior,  5  ft.  6  inch  cut. 

Wood's  Improved  Sweep-Rake  Reaper,  Junior,  5  ft.  cut. 

Wood's  Mowing  Attachment,  for  Sweep-Rake  Reaper. 

Wood's  Improved  Chain-Rake  Reaper,  5  ft.  6  inch  cut. 

Wood's  Improved  Chain-Rake  Reaper,  6  ft.  cut. 

Wood's  Mowing  Attachment,  for  Chain-Rake  Reaper. 

Wood's  Self-Binding  Harvester,  5  ft.  6  inch  cut. 

Wood's  Self-Binding  Harvester,  6  ft.  6  inch  cut. 

For  the  Two  Horse  Mower,  4  feet  6  inches  cut,  we  build  the  wide  frame  used  for  Mowers  built  for  the  European 
market.  This  frame  is  five  inches  wider  than  the  frame  of  the  Mower  with  4  feet  3  inches  cut,  and  the  other  parts 
are  correspondingly  increased  in  size  and  strength.  The  Manual  Delivery  Reaping  Attachment  can  be  used  only  with 
the  4  feet  6  inch  Mower. 


The  only  genuine  "  WOOD  MACHINES"  are  those  manufactured  and  sold  by  this  Company,  they  having  the  exclusive 
right  to  build  and  sell  these  Machines  throughout  Ihe  whole  World. 

ALL  OTHER  MACHINES,  UNDER  WHATEVER  DEVICE  THEY  ARE  PUT  ON  THE  MARKET,  AND  PRO- 
CLAIMED AS  "WOOD'S,"  ARE  SPURIOUS. 

The  genuine  WOOD  MACHINES  are  stamped  with  our  Trade  Mark,  which  was  registered  December  28,  1875. 

The  genuine  WOOD  MOWERS  also  have  our  Trade  Mark,  "Wood,"  in  raised  letters  on  the  iron  frame.  • 


BI^^^l>Tan    OFFICES  : 

NEW  YORK  CITY,  -  -  _ 34  Liberty  Street. 

CHICAGO,  ILL.,  -----...-      80  Taylor  Street, 

LONDON,  ENGLAND,    -  -           -           -           -           -           __.56   Worship  Stri^f, 

MADISON,   WIS.,         -  -           13  King  Street,  Fuller,  Johnson  &  Co.,  General  Agents. 

ST.  LOUIS,  MO.,     -           -  945  N.  Second  Str'iet,J.  E.  Hayner  &  Co.,  Ge^ieral  Agents. 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL.,  -     349  Market  Street,  Frank  Brothers  &  Co.,  General  Agents. 

BUENOS  AYRES,  S.  A.,  _           -           _           Thomas  Drysdale  &  Co.,  General  Agents. 

VALPARAISO,  S.  A.,  -           .           -           _           _       Rose-Innes  S  Co.,  General  Agents. 


Note. — Letters  of  inquiry  for  prices  of  our  different  Machines  and  terms  of  sale,  and  applications  for 
Agencies  and  the  address  of  Agents,  should  be  addressed  to  our  office  nearest  to  your  place  of  residence. 
All  inquiries  will  receive  prompt  and  careful  attention. 


c/ 


U'  •      '  •— ' 


Vi/  SS'vJCL.  '~k( 


ISTS. 

The  Walter  A.  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvester, 

ITS  UNRIVALED  RECORD. 


Looking  back  upon  the  record  made  by  our  Self-Binding  Harvester,  we  find  the  most  flattering  encour- 
agement for  the  future.  From  all  sections  of  the  country  where  they  have  been  introduced,  we  are  constantly 
receiving  letters,  from  agents  and  customers,  speaking  in  unqualified  terms  of  praise  of  their  performance, 
and  predicting  an  immense  increase  this  season  in  the  demand.  This  prediction  is  already  being  verified  by  the 
receipt  of  large  numbers  of  positive  orders,  some  of  which  orders  are  made  by  farmers  who  purchased  last 
season,  and  who  purchase  again  this,  they  having  increased  their  acreage  of  grain  for  the  coming  harvest,  owing 
to  the  economy  found  in  the  use  of  this  machine.  The  evidence  of  its  success,  and  of  its  unrivaled  superiority 
in  merit  and  public  favor,  does  not  rest  on  any  bare  assertions  of  ours,  but  UPON  FACTS,  and  these  facts 
incontrovertible.  Over  three  thousand  were  in  use  the  past  harvest,  and  it  now  has  an  established  market 
reputation,  founded  upon  a  field  record,  in  Europe,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  South  Africa,  South  America  and 
all  the  grain-growing  regions  of  the  United  States. 

The  best  possible  proof  of  the  merits  of  this  machine  is  the  testimony  of  the  farmers  who  have  used  it, 
for  which  reason  we  print  in  this  circular  as  many  of  the  large  number  of  letters  received  from  purchasers 
as  our  space  will  permit.  Those  given  are  confined,  with  but  two  or  three  exceptions,  to  the  territory  controlled 
by  our  Chicago  office — in  which  territory  this  circular  is  intended  for  distribution — but,  to  all  interested  in  the 
record  made  by  the  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvester  in  other  parts  of  the  West  and  Southwest,  we  will,  on  appli- 
cation, send  the  circulars  of  our  Madison  (Wis.)  and  St.  Louis  (Mo.)  branch  offices,  containing  a  very  large 
number  of  most  flattering  letters  from  purchasers  in  the  sections  under  the  supervision  of  those  offices. 

We  trust  that  all  the  letters  herein  given  will  receive  a  careful  reading,  and  we  would  call  particular  atten- 
tion to  that  of  Oliver  Dalrymple,  on  the  next  page,  and  do  so  from  the  fact  of  his  prominence  as  the  largest 
grain  grower  of  the  Western  World,  and  of  his  two  years'  thorough  experience  with  a  very  large  number  of 
these  machines.  Since  Mr.  Dalrymple's  letter  was  written,  he  has  given  hLs  order  for  THIRTY-FIVE  MORE 
Walter  A.  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvesters,  his  entire  success  with  the  forty-one  purchased  in  1876  and  1877 
having  encouraged  him  to  largely  increase  his  acreage  of  grain  for  the  coming  harvest.  The  simple  fact  that 
Mr.  Dalrymple,  after  his  long  and  thorough  experience,  relies  exclusively  on  the  Walter  A.  Wood  Self-Binding 
Harvester  for  safely  gathering  his  immense  crop  of  over  twelve  thousand  acres  in  the  harvest  of  1878,  speaks  a 
grander  testimonial  to  their  excellence  and  their  reliability  than  any  encomium  we  can  utter,  or  than  has  ever 
before  been  awarded  to  any  make  or  style  of  harvesting  machinery.  The  fact,  also,  that  we  are  manufacturing 
more  than  double  the  number  produced  last  season  speaks  emphatically  of  the  confidence  which  we,  as  manu- 
facturers of  long  experience,  repose  in  the  intrinsic  merit  of  these  machines  and  their  enduring  hold  upon 
public  favor. 

That  we  shall  continue  to  build  machines  which  will  command  the  approval  and  patronage  of  discerning 
farmers  is,  we  think,  assured  by  our  past  record  and  our  long  standing  and  success  as  manufacturers. 

Walter  A.  Wood  Mowing  and  Reaping  Machine  Company. 


:r  t\m  »■*- 


2  "  HAS  NO  EQUAL." 


F  o  i^  TT  ir  -  o  ]ve: 

Walter  A.  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvesters  cut  7,500  Acres  of 

Heavy  Grain  in  the  Harvest  of  1877  on  the  largest 

Grain  Farm  in  the  Western  World. 

St.  Paul,  Minn.,  August  20,  1877. 
Walter  A.  Wood,  President,  Hoosich  Falls,  »yV.  Y.  : 

Dear  Sir — Justice  requires  that  the  wheat-growers  of 
the  West  should  express  to  you  the  gratitude  I  have  no  doubt  they 
share  with  me,  for  the  enterprise  and  perseverance  you  have  mani- 
fested in  bringing  out  a  Self- Binding  Harvesting  Machine  that  may 
be  depended  on.  I  used  ten  of  your  Binders  last  season,  harvesting 
1,280  acres  with  them,  and  this  year  /  bought  thirty-one  more, 
and  have,  with  the  forty -one  Binders,  harvested  about  7,500  acres 
of  good  heavy  grain,  and  have  done  it  in  good  season,  so  that  none 
has  been  over-ripe  or  wasted.  I  have  never  seen  so  excellent  bind- 
ing or  so  c  lean  work  as  these  Binders  do  ;  there  is  literally  nothing 
lost.  The  grain  saved  over  hand-binding  more  than  pays  the  cost 
of  wire. 

You  have  tahen  a  great  burden  from  our  shoulders,  as  the 
expense  and  vexations  attending  a  large  harvest  were  so  great  that 
m^any  were  deterred  from^  grain-raising. 

I  suppose  I  have  used  and  seen  used  nearly  all  styles  of  har- 
vesting machines,  including  other  makes  of  binders,  and  have  made 
the  most  careful  inquiry  about  all  leading  machines.  I  am  firmly 
convinced  that  yours  has  no  equal.  The  demand  for  them  must 
inevitably  increase  very  rapidly  in  all  grain  sections. 

Truly  yours,  OLIVER  DALRYMPLE. 


Since  writing  the  above,  Mr,  Dalrymple  has  given  his 
order  for  tliirty-five  more  Walter  A,  Wood  Self-Binding 
Harvesters,  as  he  has  very  largely  increased  his  acreage  of 
grain.  Seventy-six  Self- Binding  Harvesters  all  in  use  on 
a  body  of  land  controlled  by  one  man  will  afford  a  sight 
never  before  witnessed  in  tJie  annals  of  grain-raising,  most 
forcibly  illnstj^ating  the  important  part  tvliich  the  Walter 
A,  Wood  Self- Binding  Harvester  is  taking  in  securing  the 
grain  crops  of  tJie  world. 


WOOD'S  PREMIUM  HAB VESTING  MACHINES. 


The  Walter  A.  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvester. 


To  this  Company  exclusively  belongs  tlie  proud  distinction  of  having  been  the  first  to  develop  and 
introduce  a  practical  and  reliable  Self-Binder.  Having  first  devoted  to  this  object  several  years  of  practical 
experimenting,  we  commenced  manufacturing  them  for  sale  in  1874.  building  a  sufficient  number  in  1874  and 
1875  to  give  them  a  thorough  test  at  the  hands  of  leading  grain-growers,  and  laying  the  foundation  for  largely 
increased  sales. 

In  1876,  we  manufactured  and  sold  over  1,000  Binders  ;  in  1877,  nearly  2,500,  and  shall  build  at  least  5,000 
to  meet  the  demand  in  1878.  In  the  short  space  of  four  years,  our  Self-Binding  Harvester  enterprise  has  grown 
from  infancy  to  maturity,  surmounting  the  difficulties  necessarily  incidental  to  the  introduction  of  a  new 
machine — particularly  one  calculated  to  bring  about  so  great  a  change  in  the  harvesting  of  grain — and  so 
revolutionizing  the  methods  of  harvesting  and  binding,  in  the  heavier  grain-growing  sections,  that  our  only 
difficulty  as  yet  has  been  to  supply  the  demand,  as  our  agents   and  customers  will  readily  testify. 

The  experience  of  the  pa.st  harvest,  with  its  abundant  crops,  has  demonstrated  the  capacity  and  economy  of 
our  Self-Binding  Harvester  in  a  most  remarkable  degree.  Purchasers  have  found  that  it  does  most  excellent, 
rapid  and  cheap  work.  The  cutting  is  neat,  the  binding  is  excellently  done — much  better  than  when  done  by 
hand  ;  the  field  is  left  perfectly  clean,  and  the  bundles  being  large  and  compact,  the  shocking  and  stacking  are 
done  rapidly  and  well,  and  in  case  of  wet  weather  they  (ky  out  better,  as  moisture  is  not  retained  by  the  band. 


WOOD'S   PREMIUM  HARVESTING  MACHINES. 


It  is  unnecessary  to  enlarge  upon  the  advantages  of  the  Self-Binder.  When  one  man,  with  a  team  of  two 
or  three  horses,  can  cut  and  bind  twelve  to  eighteen  acres  per  day,  and  do  it  better  and  cheaper  than  when  done 
by  hand,  the  advantages  are  manifest.  Those  who  have  used  the  Wood  Self-Binder  are  absolutely  unanimous  in 
the  assertion  that  the  grain  saved  more  than  pays  for  the  vxire. 

Leading  Points  of  Kxeellenee 

OF    THE 

Walter  A.  Wood  Self-Binding  Hanrester. 

1.  Separating  the  Grain.  The  lack  of  this  feature  is  not  a  serious  objection  when  the  grain  is  in 
fine  condition  for  binding  ;  but  in  lodged,  crinkled  and  tangled  grain  it  is  indispensable.  The  separation 
of  the  bound  from  the  unbound  grain,  as  also  the  delivery  of  the  bundle,  by  our  Self-Binder  is  perfection 
itself.  There  are  no  scatterings,  no  interlacing  and  hanging  together  of  ^the  bundles,  and  no  difficulty  in  shock- 
ing and  stacking. 

2.  Compressing  the  Bundle.     The  compressing  of  the  bundle  is  accomplished  by  the  pressure 

of  the  iron  arms,  iasfcead  of  by  the  wire  itself,  a  feature  uot  practically  Carried  out  by  any 

other  Machine.      By  means  of  it  the  grain  is  packed  closely  together,  and  a  compact,  well-shaped  bundle 
is  formed. 

3.  Tight  Binding.  The  compressing  being  done  by  the  iron  arms,  which  are  regulated  by  a  heavy 
rubber  spring  for  binding  large  or  small  bundles,  there  is  no  liability  to  break  the  bands,  and  consequently  the 
bundles  are  always  well  and  tightly  bOUnd.  Others  endeavor  to  compress  the  bundle  by  means 
of  the  wire,  which,  in  consequence,  is  liable  to  break ;  the  result  is  that  the  operator,  in  order  to  avoid 
breakage,  must  loosen  the  tension,  causing  poor  and  loose  binding ;  or  he  must  bind  small  bundles,  and  thereby 
consume  a  largely  increased  amount  of  wire. 

4.  Size  of  Bundles. — The  driver,  from  his  seat,  can  regulate  the  size  of  the  bundles,  making  them 
large  or  small,  at  will ;  and,  owing  to  the  compressing  being  done  by  the  arms,  it  excels  all  other  attempts 
at  mechanical  binding  in  its  capacity  for  making  large  bundles,  and  binding  them  tightly,  thus  saving  labor.in 
shocking  and  stacking,  besides  effecting  an  important  saving  in  the  amount  of  wire  used.  Observe  that  a  bundle 
two  feet  in  circumference  contains  more  than  four  times  aS  mUCh  grain  as  one  one  foot  in  circumference. 

5.  Amount  of  Wire  Consumed. — As  itis  not  practicable  with  other  Binders  to  make  as  tight 
or  as  large  bundles,  a  considerably  greater  amount  of  wire  is  consumed  by  them.  Every  farmer  will  reacfily 
comprehend  the  important  saving  of  wire  in  making  good-sized  and  tightly-bound  bundles  over  the  amount  used 
in  making  small  and  loosely-bound  bundles.  It  may  safely  be  assumed  that  this  feature  alone  makes  our  Self-Binder 
well  worth  at  least  one  hundred  dollars  more  than  any  other,  in  a  few  years'  use,  even  if  it  were  not  superior  in 


WOOD'S  PREMIUM  HARVESTING  MACHINES. 


every  other  respect.  Again,  some  binders  have  been  devised  to  feed  the  wire  from  tWO  spools  instead  of 
one,  each  band  being  in  two  pieces,  and  thereby  requiring  tWO  twistS,  or  knots,  for  every  band, 
a  decided  disadvantage,  as  one  twist  is  better  than  two,  and  takes  leSS  Wire  J  they  also  leave  the  ends 
of  the  twists  in  such  shape  as  to  tear  the  Clothlng  and  flesh  of  those  who  have  occasion  to  handle 
the  bundles.  The  Wood  Binder  makes  but  one  twist,  or  knot,  and  leaves  the  ends  of  the  wire  in  such  shape  that 
they  cannot  do  any  injury. 


The  Binder  will  make  a  bundle  at  every  revolution — once  in  about  every  ten  feet — if  allowed  to  work 
automatically ;  but  by  simply  pressing  a  treadle  under  his  foot  the  driver  can  arrest  its  motion  until  a  sheaf  of  the 
desired  size  is  gathered. 

The  driver,  without  leaving  his  seat,  and  while  the  machine  is  in  motion,  can,  by  means  of  a  lever,  instantly 
move  the  Binder  forward  or  back,  so  as  always  to  have  the  band  in  the  center  of  the  bundle,  no  matter  what 
the  length  of  the  grain.  i 

It  is  remarkably  free  from  complication,  and  simple  in  its  operation.  As  the  Wood  Binder  uses  but 
one  spool  and  makes  but  one  twist,  the  mechanism  for  holding  the  end  of  the  wire  and  forming  the  twist 
is  simplicity  itself.  The  machinery  in  the  Binder  moves  very  slowly,  so  that  there  is  but  little  friction,  hence, 
little  liability  to  wear  or  breakage. 

Owing  to  the  novelty  of  the  Self-Binder,  and  the  precision  with  which  it  binds  and  delivers  the  bundles, 
farmers  are  liable  to  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  the  success  of  the  Binder  is  attributable,  in  a  very  marked  degree, 

to  the  superiority  of  our  Harvester  over  every  other  in  its  cutting  and  elevating  quali- 
ties.    The  arrangement  of  the  cutting  apparatus  admits  of  running  it  considerably  closer  to  the  ground  than 

wich  other  harvesters— an  important  advantage  in  lodged,  tangled  or  short  grain. 
An  iron  cutter-bar  is  used,  the  guards  being  of  malleable  iron,  and  fitted  with  steel  plates, 

of  the  same  temper  as  the  sections.     The  guards  are  open  under  the  back  of  the  knife,  and  are  firmly  bolted 
to  the  cutter-bar. 

The  elevating  of  the  grain  is  accomplished  by  a    series  of  separate  belts,  running  upon   a  plain  surface. 

In  this  respect  it  is  more  simple  than  any  other  harvester,  has  much  greater  elevat- 
ing capacity,  can  be  run  more  slowly,  and,  abDve  all,  will  not  shell  grain. 

A  tilting-lever,  convenient  to  the  driver,  enables  him,  while  the  machine  is  in  motion,  to 
instantly  raise  or  lower  the  entire  cutter -bar  and  reel  for  long  or  short,  down  or  tangled  grain.  The  platform  and 
cutters  can  also  be  raised  or  lowered  perpendicularly,  thus  adapting  them  to  the  average  height  of  crop  to  be  cut 
in  any  particular  field. 


6 


USEFUL  INFORMATION 


OF 

THE  WALTER  A.  WOOD  SELF-BINDING  HARVESTER. 

The  durability  of  a  machine  depends  on  the  number  of  its 
parts,  their  motions  and  relation  to  each  other,  the  material 
used,  the  workmanship,  and,  to  a  great  extent,  the  intelligent 
care  of  the  operator. 

There  is  no  other  machine  made  which  performs  the  same 
amount  of  work,  doing  it  so  well,  which  contains  as  few  parts 
as  the  Walter  A.  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvester.  It  possesses 
every  feature  calculated  to  add  to  its  efficiency,  but  avoids  all 
features  which  do  not  have  a  practical  use.  The  Binder  por- 
tion, though  admirably  performing  a  difficult  class  of  work,  is 
nevertheless  very  simple  and  readily  comprehended.  The 
materials  throughout  the  entire  machine  are  of  the  best  qual- 
ity, and  so  proportioned  as  to  insure  great  strength ;  and 
careful  workmanship  is  applied  without  stint,  with  a  view  to 
the  easy  and  correct  working  of  the  wearing  parts  and  to  the 
greatest  possible  durability. 

Our  emphatic  assurances  as  to  the  strength  and  lasting 
qualities  of  this  remarkable  machine  are  powerfully  corrob- 
orated by  the  unanimous  verdict  of  the  farmers  themselves,  as 
expressed  in  letters  which  we  print  in  this  circular,  and  which 
we  are  constantly  receiving  from  purchasers. 


Not  Liable  to  get   out  of  Order 
^A/'ith  Proper  Usage. 

So  evident  and  so  great  are  the  advantages  derived  from 
the  use  of  a  machine  which,  with  the  aid  of  a  single  operator, 
harvests  the  grain  ready  for  the  shock  in  better  condition  than 
can  otherwise  be  accomplished,  that  the  public  are  interested 
in  learning  if  these  advantages  are  attained  at  the  expense  of 
simplicity  and  reliability.  Regarding  this  point,  we  invite 
careful  examination  of  the  machine  itself,  and,  also,  an  atten- 
tive perusal  of  the  views  of  those  who  have  used  it,  knowing, 
IS  we  do,  by  experience,  that  its  simplicity  and  the  correctness 
of  its  mechanical  principles  bespeak  universal  praise. 

Although  any  man  who  can  run  a  Reel-Kake  Reaper  success- 
fully can  run  the  Walter  A.  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvester, 
without  trouble  or  annoyance,  nevertheless  all  machinery  will 
run  better  and  work  more  satisfactorily  with  reasonable  intel- 
ligence and  care  in  handling,  and  the  better  care  you  take  of 
your  machine,  the  more  it  will  do  for  you. 

It  is  to  the  mutual  interest  of  both  manufacturer  and  far- 
mer that  the  latter  accord  common-sense  attention  to  the 
printed  directions  for  running  and  keeping  the  machine  in  order, 
and  this  is  necessary  to  the  proper  efficiency  of  any  machine. 
The  farmer  soon  learns  to  take  a  deep  interest  in  this  invalu- 
able labor-saving  machine,  and  it  soon  wins  his  favor  and 
invites  his  intelligent  care.  An  infallible  guide  is  found  in 
our  printed  directions,  furnished  with  every  machine  sold. 


WARRANTY. 

The  Walter  A.  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvester  ia 
WARRANTED  to  be  well  made,  of  good  materials,  and,  with 
proper  management,  capable  of  cutting  and  binding  in  a  work- 
manlike manner,  doing  the  binding  at  least  as  well  as  is  usually 
done  by  hand.  The  purchaser  shall  be  allowed  one  day's  use 
to  give  the  machine  a  fair  trial,  and  if  it  should  not  work 
well,  immediate  notice  must  be  given  to  the  agent  from  whom 
it  was  purchased,  and  reasonable  time  allowed  to  get  to  it  and 
remedy  the  defects,  if  any  (the  purchaser  rendering  necessary 
and  friendly  assistance),  when,  if  it  cannot  be  made  to  do 
good  work,  it  shall  be  returned,  free  of  charge,  to  the  place 
where  received,  and  the  payments  of  money  or  notes  will  be 
refunded.  Failure  to  give  notice,  as  above,  shall  be  deemed 
conclusive  evidence  that  the  machine  fills  the  warranty. 


ORDER  EARLY. 

Although  we  built  some  2,500  Self-Binders  in  1877,  that 
number  did  not  supply  more  than  one-third  of  the  demand 
we  had  for  them,  and  from  the  fact  of  our  Binders  proving 
such  an  unqualified  success  last  season,  it  is  absolutely  certain 
that  the  demand  for  the  coming  season  will  be  greatly  increased. 
Our  facilities  for  the  manufacture  of  the  Binder  have  been 
largely  increased,  notwithstanding  which  we  cannot  hope  to  be 
able  to  fully  supply  the  demand. 

Intending  purchasers  should  bear  this  in  mind,  and  hand 
in  their  orders  to  the  nearest  agent  early  in  the  season. 


USE  GOOD,  PURE  LARD  OIL. 

IT  IS  ALWAYS  THE  CHEAPEST. 

;       Our  attention  is  constantly  being  called  to  the  great  injury 
!    done  to  farm  machinery,  by  the  use  of  cheap  "  machine  " 
oils,  "  black  "   or  petroleum  oils  and  other  miserable  lubrica- 
tors.     These  (so-called  cheap)  preparations  are  almost  inva- 
i  riably  sticky,  gummy  and  gritty,  soon  become  hardened 
I  in  the  bearings,  and,  instead  of  fulfilling  the  purpose  intended, 
they  cause  the  machine  to  cut  and  wear  out  quickly  and  to  run 
extremely  hard.     In  the  end  they  prove  the  dearest  oils  a 
farmer  can  possibly  use. 
I        Good  Lard  Oil  can  always  be  obtained,  and  farmers  will 
save  money,  horse-flesh  and  much  annoyance  by  its  use. 

Ask  for  pure  lard  oil,  and  take  no  other. 


AND  SEASONABLE  SUGGESTIONS. 


SUPPLIES  or  WIRE-ORDER  IT  EARLY. 

Farmers  now  owning  Wood  Binders,  and  those  who 
purchase  for  the  coming  harvest,  should  order  their  season's 
supply  of  Wire  early  and  thus  make  sure  not  only  of  having 
it  on  hand  when  needed,  but  save  the  extra  expense  of  having 
it  sent  by  express.  Knowing  how  many  acres  they  will  have 
to  cut,  farmers — particularly  those  who  purchased  last  season 
— can  readily  determine  quite  closely  as  to  the  amount  they 
will  need.  Farmers  run  no  risk  whatever  in  ordering  early 
and  liberally,  as  Wire  well  seasoned,  if  kept  dry,  is  better  than 
that  fresh  from  the  mill.  Some  of  the  most  experienced 
wire-makers  even  claim  that  wire  that  has  been  made  for  a 
considerable  time  is  25  per  cent,  better  than  that  freshly  made, 
and  that  it  should  be  manufactured  at  least  three  to  six 
months  before  using,  and  will  continue  to  improve  in  quality 
for  a  year.     Care  must  be  taken,  however,  that  it  is  kept  dry. 

Wire  can  be  obtained  from  any  of  our  Agents  by  ordering 
it  in  timely  season,  or  from  our  nearest  Branch  Office. 


THE  COST  OF  WIRE. 

The  price  of  wire  will  be  11^  cents  per  pound,  delivered  on 
cars  at  Cleveland,  0.,  or  Chicago,  111.  Purchasers  must  pay 
freight  from  Cleveland  or  Chicago,  but  the  freight  on  wire  is 
low,  and  will  not  average  over  half  a  cent  to  one  cent  per 
pound  (unless  it  has  to  be  sent  per  express).  No  charge  is 
made  for  spools  and  they  are  not  included  in  the  weight 
charged  for.  It  is  quite  generally  conceded  by  farmers  who 
have  had  experience  with  the  Self-Binder  that  it  saves  grain 
enough  to  pay  for  the  wire,  thus  setting  at  rest  any 
objection  that  can  possibly  be  raised  upon  the  point  of  cost. 


WIRE-BAND  CUTTERS. 

We  are  prepared  to  furnish  a  new  and  improved  pattern  of 
Band  Cutters,  which  retain  one  end  of  the  band  if  de- 
sired;  so  that,  if  preferred,  the  bands  can  be  withdrawn  in 
threshing,  and  kept  separate  from  the  straw.  These  Band- 
Cutters  are  an  improvement  over  those  we  made  last  season,  are 
stronger  and  more  serviceable,  and  will  hold  the  end  of  the  band 
without  fail,  if  desired.  They  can  be  purchased  at  any  of  our 
Branch  Offices  or  of  our  agents. 


THE  WALTER  A,  WOOD  SELF-BINDING  HARVESTER 

may  be  had  on  application  by  letter,  when  we  will  give  the 
address  of  our  agent  nearest  the  residence  of  the  applicant. 
Should  there  be  no  local  agent  near,  a  machine  will  be  shipped 
direct  from  our  nearest  distributing  point  upon  receipt  of  an 
advance  of  money  sufficient  to  cover  freight  and  expense.  All 
letters  of  inquiry  will  be  answered  with  full  information,  and 
we  invite  the  correspondence  of  farmers,  whether  it  may  re- 
late to  prospective  purchases  or  otherwise. 


CHEAPNESS    OF    REPAIRING. 

In  the  selection  of  a  Harvesting  Machine  of  any  style, 
cheapness  of  repairing  is  a  very  important  matter  for  consider- 
ation, and  one  to  which  far  too  little  attention  is  generally 
paid.  In  deciding  what  machine  to  buy,  many  farmers  allow 
themselves  to  be  governed  by  the  cost  price  at  the  time  of 
,  purchase,  without  examining  into  simplicity  or  thoroughness 
of  construction,  or  stopping  to  consider  the  probable  future 
cost  of  keeping  the  machine  in  repair  and  the  certainty  of 
being  able  to  readily  obtain  duplicate  parts,  should  the  neces- 
sity arise. 

A  single  "  break-down  "  will  oftentimes  cost,  in  loss  of  time 
and  damage  to  crops — not  to  mention  the  cost  of  the  repairs — 
more  than  the  difference  in  price  between  the  best  and  an 
inferior  machine. 

The  Wood  Machines  are  constructed  with  a  special  view  to 
durability,  reliability  and  economy  in  use.  They  are  so  simple 
in  construction  as  to  be  readily  understood  and  kept  in  order ; 
and,  as  they  have  fewer  pieces  and  wearing  parts  than 
any  other  make  of  machines,  they  are  more  durable  and  less 
liable  to  "break-downs." 

The  prices  for  Extra  Parts  for  all  our  different  machines  are 
made  very  unusually  low. 


DUPLICATE    PARTS. 

We  have  always  kept  up  a  perfect  system  of 
duplication,  and  any  person  who  has  ever  purchased  a 
machine  made  at  our  establishment  can,  at  all  times,  procure 
from  us  or  our  agents  any  extra  parts  that  may  be  required, 
and  at  extremely  reasonable  prices.  Duplicate  parts  for  all 
our  different  styles  of  machines  are  kept  constantly  on  hand 
at  our  works,  at  our  branch  offices  and  with  our  agents. 


HINTS. 

Within  the  past  few  years,  the  demand  for  Scythes,  Sickles 
and  Sections  has  increased  so  rapidly  tliat  a  number  of  fac- 
tories have  been  started  for  the  sole  purpose  of  supplying 
these  articles  for  the  different  machines  in  the  market.  Hav- 
ing no  interest  in  maintaining  the  reputation  of  any  make  of 
Harvesting  Machines,  and  looking  for  profit  to  these  goodg 
alone,  these  manufacturers  have  not  been  and  cannot  be 
expected  to  be,  as  partioular  in  the  quality  of  their  goods  as 
the  manufacturer  who  has  the  reputation  of  his  machine 
directly  affected  by  the  quality  of  the  cutting  apparatus 
furnished. 

We  manufacture  our  Sections  from  the  very  best  quality  of 
English  steel,  and  our  Scytlie  and  Sickle-Backs  from  the  best 
cold-rolled  Norway  iron,  and  guarantee  their  quality.  All 
genuine  "Wood"  Sections  have  the  impress  "Wood"  upon 
the  steel.  No  machine  can  do  good  work  with  an  inferior  or 
dull  knife.  i^se  only  the  "  Wood"  Sections,  and  keep  them 
sharp. 


All  Genuine  Wood  Sections  are  stamped 
in  the  Steel  with  our  Trade  Mark,  thus  : 


8                                                                   THE    GOLDEN    GRAIN. 

THE  WALTER  A,  WOOD  SELF-B  NO  U  HARVESTEfiS  ON  THE  GREAT  WHEAT  FARMS 

OIF  THE  n5roie/Ti3:"WEST. 


« ♦  < 


Perhaps  the  very  strongest  proof  of  the  excellence  of  the  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvesters  is  the  experience  with  them 
in  the  large  grain  fields,  where  their  operation  and  management  must  necessarily  be  entrusted  to  hired  men,  who  often  have 
had  no  experience  even  with  ordinary  Reapers,  and  none  at  all  with  Binders  ;  yet  it  is  on  such  farms  that  the  advantages 
of  the  Self-Binder  are  most  manifest.  It  enables  the  grain-grower  not  only  to  do  his  harvesting  at  a  fractional  part  of  the 
cost  under  the  old  method,  but  the  work  is  done  in  a  vastly  superior  manner,  as  the  binding  is  all  well  done,  no  bundles 
coming  loose,  even  when  roughly  handled.  As  the  bundles  are  large  and  compact,  the  cost  of  shocking,  stacking  and  thresh- 
ing the  wire-bound  is  far  less  than  with  hand-bound  grain,  when  the  bundles  are  often  small,  many  come  apart,  and  there  are 
scatterings  at  every  stage  of  the  work,  not  only  causing  waste  of  grain,  but  a  great  waste  of  time. 

Again,  the  grain  can  be  cut  in  time.  There  is  no  occasion  for  allowing  it  to  become  over-ripe,  when  one  man,  with 
two  or  three  horses,  can  cut  and  bind  twelve  to  eighteen  acres  per  day,  and  do  it  in  the  most  excellent  manner. 

We  briefly  mention  a  few  of  the  large  farmers  who  use  the  Wood  Self-Binders  : 

Oliver  Dalrymple,  of  St.  Paul,  controls  some  75,000  acres  of  land  in  the  Valley  of  the  Red  River  of  the  North, 
in  Dakota  Territory.  In  1876,  he  had  1,280  acres  in  grain,  and  used  ten  Wood  Self-Binders  to  harvest  it.  In  1877,  he 
had  7,500  acres  in  grain,  and  used  forty-one  Binders.  How  well  he  did  the  work,  we  leave  for  himself  to  say.  Next 
year,  he  will  have  12,000  acres  of  grain.  The  great  farm  or  farms — or  more  correctly  speaking,  body  of  land — which  Mr. 
Dalrymple  controls  is  nowhere  excelled  in  fertility.  The  valley  in  which  this  land  is  located  will  average  about  fifty  miles 
in  width,  and  the  fertile  part  is  some  three  hundred  miles  long,  extending  a  considerable  distance  into  British  America. 
This  valley  will,  in  a  short  time,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  great  rush  of  immigrants  during  the  last  two  or  three  year?, 
and  the  amount  of  land  being  purchased  and  broken  up  by  enterprising  capitalists,  soon  become  one  vast  wheat  field.  Prep- 
arations for  breaking  new  land  next  year  are  being  made  on  a  scale  never  before  known  in  this  country,  one  company 
alone  asserting  that  they  will  break  up  20,000  acres  in  1878,  which  will  be  ready  for  seeding  in  the  Spring  of  1879.  Mr, 
Dalrymple  has,  with  the  aid  of  the  Self-Binder  (without  which  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to  raise  so  vast  an  amount  of 
wheat  at  a  profit),  demonstrated  that  such  large  operations  can  be  very  successful,  and  he  deserves  great  credit  for  his 
sagacity  and  enterprise. 

It  is  not  only  the  Red  River  Valley  that  is  fertile  and  suitable  to  raising  grain.  The  land  on  either  side,  for  great 
distances,  is  equally  good,  or  very  excellent  land. 

The  Sunny  Side  Farm,  near  Sheldon,  in  O'Brien  County,  Iowa. 

This  is  a  very  fine  farm,  with  some  3,500  acres  in  grain,  under  the  management  of  Gen.  J.  W.  Bishop,  of  St.  Paul. 
No  land  can  be  better.  Most  of  the  land  on  the  line  of  the  St.  Paul  &  Sioux  City  Railroad  is  equally  good.  Settlers  are 
rushing  in  with  great  rapidity,  and  no  section  in  the  West  will  excel  it  when  it  becomes  settled.  Gen.  Bishop  commenced 
sowing  wheat  in  1875,  when  he  used  six  Wood  Self-Binders.  He  increased  to  sixteen,  in  1877,  and  as  to  how  he  likes  them 
we  refer  to  the  accompanying  letter  from  him.  He  has  tested  them  thoroughly,  and  that,  too,  before  they  had  attained 
their  present  perfection.  Gen.  Bishop  is  also  General  Manager  of  the  St.  Paul  &  Sioux  City  Railroad,  and  no  man  ranks 
higher  in  the  community  than  he. 

Gen.  Canfield's  Farm  at  Lake  Park. 

About  fifty  miles  east  of  Fargo,  at  Lake  Park,  on  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  is  Gen.  Canfield's  farm  of  from  4,000 
to  5,000  acres.  This  land  is  gently  rolling,  but  in  no  way  inferior  to  the  Red  River  Valley.  It  is  well  watered,  and 
adapted  to  grain  or  stock  raising.  About  1,200  acres  are  under  plow,  which  were  sown  to  wheat  in  1876,  when  he  bought 
five  Wood  Self-Binders.     In  1877,  he  bought  two  more,  which  fact  amply  attests  his  good  opinion  of  them. 


THE    GREAT    WHEAT- GROWERS    USB    THE    WOOD    SELF-BINDER. 


9 


Clark  6l  Jefierson's  Farm,  near  ITew  Richmond,  St.  Croiz  Co.,  IXTis. 

This  farm  contains  about  1,000  acres  of  most  excellent  land,  and  is  all  being  placed  under  cultivation.  They  bought  two 
Wood  Self-Binders  in  1875,  and  in  1877  three;  showing  the  views  of  these  two  enterprising  and  successful  men  regard- 
ing the  Wood  Machine. 

Taopi  Mill  Company's  Farm,  at  Taopi,  XHower  Co.,  nXinn. 

This  is  a  farm  of  about  4,000  acres.  The  land  is  of  .the  best  quality  and  3,000  acres  were  in  grain  in  1877.  They  had 
a  full  supply  of  the  old  styles  of  harvesting  machinery,  but  nevertheless  gave  an  order  for  eight  Wood  Self-Binders,  but  so 
late  in  the  season  that  they  could  get  but  four.  They  then  bought  six  of  another  make  of  binders.  To  show  what  they 
thought  of  the  two  makes  it  is  only  necessary  to  state  that  later  in  the  season,  when  they  could  get  three  more  Wood's  Self- 
Binders,  they  took  them  and  laid  aside  their  old  style  machines  entirely,  and  have  at  this  writing  engaged  all  their  new 
harvesting  machines  for  1878  of  the  Wood  make. 

Tohn  Frank  has  a  fine  farm  near  the  above-named  Taopi  farm.  He  had  two  Wood  Self-Binders  and  raised  600  to 
700  acres  of  grain  in  1877.  Has  three  of  another  make  of  hand-binding  harvesters,  but  got  so  disgusted  with  them  that  he 
laid  them  aside  and  did  nearly  all  of  his  harvesting  the  past  season  with  two  Wood  Self-Binders. 

The  Farm  of  Benry  BK.  IXTilliams, 

near  that  of  Dalrymple,  had  over  1,000  acres  in  grain,  and  used  six  of  Wood's  Self-Binders  in  1877.     His  land  is  of  the 
same  excellent  character  as  that  of  the  Dalrymple  farm. 

The  Farm  of  IMEr.  Badwin 

is  not  far  from  the  Dalrymple  farm.     He  used  three  or  four  Wood's  Self-Binders.     He  has  a  large  amount  of  land  under 
cultivation,  and  is  opening  still  more. 

The  above  is  surely  sufficient  to  show  what  the  large  farmers,  who  are  most  gravely  interested,  think  of  the  Wood 
Self-Binders.     It  is  such  parties  who  are  certain  to  make  the  most  careful  inquiry  and  examination  before  purchasing. 


"AMONG  THE  REAPERS." 

Special   Staff  Correspondence  of  the  St.   Paul  and  Minneapolis 
Pioneer-Press,  Aug.  31,  1877. 

EXTRACTS. 

On  our  return,  the  Superintendent  took  us  to  a  section  [of 
the  "Cass  Farm"]  where  the  wonderful  Harvesters  were  at 
work.  Sixteen  of  these  machines  were  industriously  em- 
ployed, and  certainly  it  was  a  remarkable  sight.  The  great 
procession  moved  by  in  a  steady,  almost  noiseless  manner, 
truly  a  "march  of  progress."  Each  was  drawn  by  three 
mules  or  horses,  and  they  proceeded,  one  behind  the  other  in 
a  diagonal  line,  cutting  a  swath  one  hundred  feet  wide  into 
the  sea  of  wheat.  They  were  the  famous  Harvesters  of  Wal- 
ter A.  Wood,  provided  with  the  ingenious  Locke  Self-Binder 
It  was  amusing  to  see  the  automatic  arm  of  the  Binder  throw 
out  the  sheaves  in  a  spiteful  manner,  as  if  exclaiming,  "  Get 
out  of  here ! "  Eighteen  of  these  bundles  were  thrown  out 
each  minute,  the  driver  graduating  their  size  at  will,  and  the 
shockers,  of  which  there  were  two  to  each  machine,  found 
plenty  of  occupation  in  keeping  up  with  the  work.  Occasion- 
ally a  harvester  would  require  a  new  reel  of  wire,  when  it 
would  drop  out  of  the  line  and  the  ranks  would  close  up 
in  soldier-like  order.  In  a  moment  the  wire  would  be  in 
place,  and  the  intelligent  machine  would  fall  in  behind.  On 
inquiring  of  the  superintendent  of  the  farm,  a  man  who  has 
had  long  experience  in  the  use  of  Harvesters,  I  was  informed 
that  they  could  get  no  other  machine  that  approached  the 
"  Wood  ■'  in  all  details.  One  great  point  of  the  efficiency  was 
promptness,  as   harvest-time   was   a   critical  period  in  farm 


work.  If  the  machine  lacked  in  any  particular,  its  weak 
point  was  sure  to  be  discovered  just  when  it  was  most  needed. 
In  so  extensive  a  work  as  cutting  4,000  acres  of  wheat,  which 
must  be  done  in  just  such  a  time,  every  implement  used  must 
be  reliable,  for  if  even  one  is  laid  up  the  loss  will  be  great. 

From  my  observation  of  the  Wood  Harvester,  I  can  imagine 
nothing  more  perfect.  The  drivers  all  say  that  they  are  very 
easily  managed.  The  horses  swing  them  along  without  ap- 
parent exertion.  It  cuts  low  down  in  the  grain,  thus  securing 
every  stalk,  and  it  does  its  work  so  thoroughly  that  the  Ruths 
and  blackbirds  find  their  occupation  as  gleaners  entirely  gone. 
The  Binder  is  also  a  a  great  institution,  saving  the  labor  of  six 
men,  and  at  the  same  time  doing  the  work  much  better.  1 
learned  from  Mr.  Johnson,  of  the  firm  of  Fuller,  Johnson  & 
Co.,  Madison,  Wis.,  the  general  agents  of  the  Harvester,  that 
they  could  scarcely  fill  their  orders  this  year,  and  certainly  it 
is  not  to  be  wondered  at  when  such  educated  farmers  as  those 
operating  these  farms  select  them  after  having  tested  all  other 
kinds. 

On  another  immense  farm,  located  thirty  miles  down  the 
Red  River,  north  of  Fargo,  there  are  twenty-five  of  the  Wood 
Hjtrvesters  and  Binders,  of  which  1  have  spoken,  and  then 
come  eleven  of  the  well  known  Buffixlo  Pitts  Steam  Threshers, 
very  reliable  and  rapid  working  machines.  These  are  each 
supplied  with  a  portable  engine,  of  approved  make.  Seventy- 
five  strong  farm  wagons,  and  a  great  number  of  small  imple- 
ments, make  up  a  list  of  tools  that  would  do  the  work  for  en- 
tire counties  in  the  "  down  east"  States. 


10  WOOD'S    PBEMIUM    HARVESTING    MACHINES. 


TESTIMONY  FKOM   PURCHASERS 

OF 

Walter  A.  Wood's  Self-Binding  Harvester. 


We  print  the  following  testimony  from  farmers  who  have  used  the  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvester,  in  order 
that  intending  purchasers  may  read  the  verdict  rendered  by  their  brother  farmers  who  have  had  practical 

field  experience  with  these  machines,  and  who,  therefore,  know  whereof  they  speak.     It  will 

be  noticed  that  we  give  the  post  office  address  in  each  case,  and  we  ^  ould  suggest  to  intending  purchasers  that 
they  write  to  any  of  the  parties  named  for  more  detailed  information  (which,  we  feel  sure,  will  cheerfully  be 
given),  or  that,  if  opportunity  offers,  they  consult  with  them  in  person. 

A  large  additional  number  of  letters  will  be  furnished,  if  desired.  Those  given  are  selected  with  reference 
to  localities  rather  than  to  the  contents,  and  our  many  friends  who  have  so  freely  written  in  praise  of  the  Wood 
Self-Binder  will  plea.se  accept  our  thanks  for  same  and  pardon  their  omission,  from  want  of  space,  in  this  circular. 

In  reading  the  following  letters  from  purchasers  of  the  Wood  Self- Binding  Harvester,  note  how  uniformly 
they  speak 

OF  ITS  GRAIN,  TIME  AND  LABOR-SAVING  QUALITIES. 

Mote  what  is  said  ahout  ^'  cost  of  wire,"  "  amount  of  repairs,"  number 
of  acres  harvested  per  day,"  "ease  of  draft"  and  "facility  of  manage- 
ment," and,  above  all,  observe  the  spirit  of  general  and  uniform  satisfac- 
tion pervading  all  these  letters. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  wherever,  in  the  following  letters,  reference  is  made  to  another  machine  for  similar  work, 
we  have  left  the  name  of  such  machine  blank.  We  do  this  as  a  matter  of  courtesy  to  competitors,  and,  also, 
from  the  fact  that  we  do  not  seek  to  make  capital  for  our  machines  out  of  the  misfortunes  of  others. 


SIXTEEN 

WALTER    A.    WOOD    SELF-BINDING    HARVESTERS    Cut   and    Bind   2,600 
Acres  in  the  Harvest  of   1877,  on  the  Sunnyside 

Farms,  Minnesota. 

From  J.  W.  Bishop,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Sept.  I,  \^77.— In  reply  to  your  letter  of 
inquiry,  I  take  pleasure  in  saying  that  the  Wood  Harvesters  with  Self- Binders  attached 
purchased  from  you  have  done  our  ivorh  efficiently  and  in  every  way  to  our  satisfaction. 
We  have  this  season  used  Sixteen  of  them  on  our  Sunnyside  Farms,  cutting  av^d  binding 
ahout  2,600  acres  with  them,  ail  in  good  time  and  without  accident  or  failure. 
It  is,  by  our  experience,  quite  impossible  in  this  country  to  successfully  worh  a  large  grain 
farm  without  reliable  machinei'y  for  cutting  and  binding.  We  have  found  yours  to  fully 
answer  the  purpose  in  both  hinds  of  worh,  and  I  am  unable  to  suggest  any  improvement 
on  your  machines  of  1877 .  Mow  that  it  has  been  demonstrated  that  the  growing  of  grain 
in  large  tracts  can  be  successfully  and  profitably  conducted  as  a  business,  I  thinh  you 
should  provide  for  a  very  large  increase  in  the  demand  for  your  machinery  in  the  near 
future. 


LETTERS  FROM  PURCHASERS. 


11 


SIX 
WALTER  A.  WOOD  SELF-BINDING  HARVESTERS  harvest   I, GOO  Acres  on 
the  large  farm  of  the  Messrs.  H.  &  IVI.  H.  Williams, 
at  Fargo,  Dakota  Territory. 

August  22,  1877. — We  have  finished  cutting  our  1,000  acre  field,  with  six  of  your  Wood  Harvesters  and 
Binders.     We  are  abundantly  satisfied  with  the  working  of  the  machines  in  every  particular.     They  have  done 
their  work  well.     That  six  men,  with  your  machines,  should  harvest  1,000  acres  of  wheat  (cut  and  bind),  is 
indeed,  one  of  the  marvels  of  this  nineteenth  century. 


Prominent  Advantages  over  other  Binders. 

Prom  John  H.  Smith,  Elkhart,  Ind.,  Aug.  28, 
1877. — I  congratulate  you  on  manufacturing  a  machine  which 
is  King  of  the  Harvest.  I  have  this  season  cut  and  bound 
my  crop  with  one  of  your  54  ft.  Self-Binding  Harvesters,  doing 
the  work  in  splendid  shape  for  the  condition  of  the  grain. 
The  tornado  of  July  2(1  had  tangled  my  wheat  very  badly. 
No  other  Machine  could  have  equaled  yours  in  elevating 
and  saving  it.  It  elevates  wet,  dry,  tangled  and  straight 
grain  all  the  same.  Allow  me  to  mention  a  few  advantages  of 
the  Self-Binder:  1st.  The  separation  of  the  bound  bundle 
from  the  unbound  grain  following  it.  2d.  The  greater 
tightness  of  the  band  than  that  made  by  any  other  Binder. 
3d.  The  binding  of  the  sheaves  of  any  required  size,  with 
four  inches  less  wire  for  a  sheaf  than  the  *****  or  *  *  *  * 
machines,  as  it  twists  the  band  in  but  one  place  and  does  not 
drop  an  extra  piece  of  four  inches  of  twisted  wire  for  each  sheaf 
bound.  4th.  It  does  not  draw  the  bundle  tight  by  means 
of  the  wire,  but  by  means  of  the  pressure  of  the  arms,  there 
being  no  strain  on  the  wire  until  after  the  twist  is  completed. 
5th.  The  great  convenience  of  adjusting  the  bands  to  the 
center  of  the  sheaves  in  any  length  of  grain  by  means  of  a 
simple  lever.  I  might  mention  many  other  most  important 
advantages,  did  space  permit.  My  machine  does  not  seem  to 
run  heavier  than  a  dropper,  even  on  wet,  soft  ground.  I  cut 
15  acres  in  one  day.  My  wire  cost  me  about  20  cents  per  acre. 
The  shocking  of  the  wire-bound  bundles  is  less  labor  than  the 
straw-bound,  as  the  bundles  are  firm,  and  being  larger,  require 
less  shocks.  In  threshing,  I  cut  the  bands  and  fed  them  into 
the  thresher  with  the  straw  without  the  slightest  bad  effect. 
I  will  give  $100  a  head  for  all  the  cattle  that  die  from  eating 
the  wire.  My  neighbor,  Mr.  Smiley,  and  others,  fed  the  wire- 
bound  straw  to  their  stock  last  year,  and  have  no  fears  on 
account  of  it. 

In  buying  one  of  your  Self-Binding  Harvesters,  a  farmer 
bids  good  bye  to  much  of  his  past  annoyance,  and  starts  anew. 
Counting  usual  harvesting  expenses,  a  machine  will  pay  for 
itself  clean  in  cutting  200  acres,  to  say  nothing  of  the  grain 
saved  by  clean  work. 

From  J.  K.  Smith,  Plattville,  111.,  July,  1877 — 

The  Walter  A.  Wood's  Harvester  and  Locke's  Self-Binder  that 
I  purchased  of  your  agents  (Haigh  Bros.,  Yorkville,  111.,)  last 
year,  is  a  success  in  every  respect.  My  son  Thomas  cut  and 
bound  sixty-five  acres  in  all  (rye,  timothy,  and  oats),  forty. five 
acres  of  which  were  cut  and  bound  in  three  days  and  a  half, 
and  it  was  all  cheaply  and  satisfactorily  done.  I  have 
threshed  all  my  grain,  cut  and  bound  by  this  machine,  and 
find  no  inconvenience  whatever.  The  wire  does  not  break  up 
in  short  pieces  aa  some  suppose,  but  passes  through  the  ma- 
chine in  one  piece.  I  can  cheerfully  recommend  them,  and 
would  say  buy  W.  A.  Wood's  Harvester  with  Self-Binder. 

Prom  Edwin  Blackman,  Plattville,  111.,  July, 
1877. — I  have  threshed  all  Mr.  Smith's  and  Mr.  Tallmadge's 
grain,  bound  by  Self-Binder,  and  found  no  difficulty  in  thresh- 
ing it.  All  the  grain  bound  by  Self-Binder  came  to  the  ma- 
chine in  better  condition  than  that  bound  by  hand. 


Fifteen  Years'  Experience  with  the  Wood 
Machines. 

Prom  R.  D.  May,  Edwardsburg,  Mich.,  July 
23,  1877. — Having  used  your  Harvesting  Machines  for  fif- 
teen years,  I  think  myself  qualified  to  speak  of  their  merits. 
1  had  the  first  Self- Rake  of  your  make  in  this  county,  and  when 
it  was  worn  out  purchased  another,  and,  after  using  it  three 
years,  laid  it  aside  for  your  Harvester  and  Binder.  I  always 
claimed  you  made  the  best  Self-Rake  Reaper  in  the  market,  and 
now  claim  the  same  for  the  Harvester  and  Binder.  It  is  all  you 
claim  for  it,  doing  its  work  well — better  than  can  be  done  by 
hand.  I  have  stacked  wheat  for  nearly  twenty  years,  but  never 
stacked  any  that  was  as  well  bound  as  mine  was  this  year,  only 
three  bundles  coming  unbound  in  stacking  sixty-five  acres,  and 
those  on  account  of  faults  in  the  wire.  The  draft  is  not  much 
greater,  if  any,  than  of  a  Self- Rake,  and  for  ease  of  manage- 
ment I  prefer  the  Binder  to  the  Raker.  The  farmers'  wives  of 
this  country  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  Locke  and  yourselves 
for  inventing  and  manufacturing  a  machine  that  saves  them 
many  hours  and  days  of  hard  work.  My  "better  half  says 
it  does  not  seem  as  though  we  had  any  harvest  this  year.  I 
cut  sixteen  acres  in  one  day,  and  the  Binder  did  not  "bush" 
nor  complain  of  the  "  grub"'  nor  ef  fast  driving.  Wishing  you 
success,  I  remain  the  friend  of  the  Walter  A.  Wood  Self-Rake 
Reaper  and  Harvester  and  Binder. 

Prom  Chas.  E.  Ells,  Carmel,  Eaton  Co.,  Mich., 
Aug.  16,  1877. — I  purchased  this  season  of  James  Gallery, 
Agent  at  Eaton  Rapids,  one  of  your  Harvesters  and  Self-Bind- 
ers,  and  having  cut  sixty  acres  of  wheat,  oats  and  barley,  have 
thoroughly  tried  it  in  all  kinds  of  grain.  It  has  cost  me  about 
twenty-seven  cents  per  acre  for  wire.  I  have  never  done 
my  harvesting  so  nicely  and  so  easily  as  this 
season,  three  men  doing  all  the  harvest  of  sixty  acres,  besides 
thirty  acres  of  haying,  in  a  short  space  of  time.  No  paying 
$2.00  and  $2.50  per  day  for  help,  and  then  perhaps  not  having 
them  when  wanted.  The  Harvester  is  always  ready,  and  with 
one  man  to  set  up,  a  large  harvest  can  be  got  through  with 
easily  and  cheaply.  Farmers,  if  you  contemplate  buying  a 
harvester  and  binder,  nothing  will  give  the  satisfaction  that 
this  one  will,  as  the  *  *  *  *  and  *  *  *  Binders  have  been 
tried  in  this  vicinity  and  failed. 

Prom  James  E.  Gould,  Dowagiac,  Mich.,  Aug. 
10,  1877. — I  thought  I  must  write  a  few  lines  to  let  you 
know  how  my  Harvester  and  Binder  worked  this,  my  second 
season.  They  worked  well ;  I  cut  100  acres  of  wheat  in  seven 
days,  and  I  had  from  ten  to  twenty  men  to  see  it  work  every 
day  I  was  cutting.  They  all  pronounced  the  Binder  perfect. 
There  will  be  a  chance  to  sell  machines  here  next  season. 

Prom  John  Engle,  E.  R.  Somers,  George 
Thorpe,  Jr.,  and  Wm.  Thorpe,  Minonk,  111.,  Aug. 
2,  1977. — This  is  to  certify  that  we  bought  of  your  agent,  H. 
A.  Christians,  a  Self-Binder,  and  have  used  it  in  cutting  over 
one  hundred  acres  of  grain  without  paying  one  cent  for  re- 
pairs, and  without  having  any  trouble,  and  it  is  still  working 
well.     We  recommend  it  to  all  in  want  of  a  Binder. 


12 


LETTERS  PROM  PURCHASERS. 


Any  Machine  made  by  Walter  A.  Wood  Worthy 
the  Confidence  of  Farmers. 

Prom  Oscar  Cline,  Sherwood,  Mich.,  Sept.  1, 
1877. — I  bought  of  A.  R.  Barrett  &  Bro.,  the  agents  at  Union 
City,  one  of  your  Harvesters  and  Self-Binders,  and  have  cut 
and  bound  with  it  80  acres  of  wheat  and  13  acres  of  oats,  using 
only  two  horses  on  the  machine.  I  do  not  think  the  draft  ex- 
ceeds that  of  a  Self-Rake  Reaper  cutting  the  same  width  of 
swath.  My  entire  expense  in  harvesting  will  not  exceed  $50. 
I  am  satisfied  the  Harvester  and  Binder  will  do  the  work  bet- 
ter and  cleaner  than  is  usually  done  by  hand.  I  prefer  wire- 
bound  bundles  to  those  bound  with  straw,  as  they  do  not  come 
apart  in  handling.  I  have  threshed  my  wheat  and  find  the 
wire  gives  no  trouble  ;  in  fact  I  would  not  ask  for  better  bands. 
I  also  bought  of  the  same  parties  one  of  Wood's  Iron  Frame 
Mowers,  which,  I  am  happy  to  say,  fills  the  bill  in  every  par- 
ticular. I  used  one  of  your  Chain-Rake  Reapers  and  Mowers 
coirbined  for  nine  years,  and,  from  my  experience,  can  recom- 
mend any  machine  made  by  Walter  A.  Wood  as  being  worthy 
the  confidence  of  farmers. 

Prom  Mrs.  S.  W.  Brown,  Littleton,  Col.,  Aug. 
21, 1877. — I  wish  to  add  my  testimonial  to  that  of  my  hus- 
band in  praise  of  the  Walter  A.  Wood's  Harvester  and  Self- 
Binder.  I  think  that  farmers'  wives  can  congratulate  Mr. 
Locke  for  his  invention,  as  it  does  away  with  so  much  work  in 
the  house  during  harvest,  which  this  year  has  passed  away 
without  my  hardly  knowing  it ;  but  previous  to  our  purchas- 
ing the  Wood  Harvester  and  Self-Binder  I  was  reminded  of  it 
every  day  and  all  day  long,  and  I  can  hardly  "  speak  the  joy 
I  feel "  now  that  my  household  labors  are  so  greatly  lessened 
by  this  most  justly  named  labor-saving  invention. 

Saves  Labor  to  the  Tune  of  $8  per  Day. 

Prom  J.  Preston,  South  Dixon,  111.,  Aug.  16, 
1877. — In  regard  to  the  working  of  the  Wood  Harvester  and 
Binder  which  I  bought  of  you,  I  would  say  that  it  gives 
most  perfect  satisfaction.  It  does  its  work  perfectly, 
and  the  draft  is  as  easy  as  that  of  an  ordinary  Harvester, 
being  handled  with  ease  by  two  horses.  The  manage- 
ment is  as  easy  as  that  of  any  reaper.  We  are  certain  that  it 
will  work  where  any  reaper  will  in  any  kind  of  grain.  It  is 
as  durable  as  any  machine  in  the  market,  and  in  construction 
is  without  a  fault.  The  wire  cost  us  between  thirty  and  forty 
cents  per  acre,  and  all  who  saw  the  work  done  by  it  were  of 
the  opinion  that  the  saving  of  gi'ain  and  board  of  help  more 
than  paid  for  the  wire.  It  cost  sixty  cents  per  acre,  including 
team,  driver,  wire,  etc.  The  condition  of  the  grain  to  shock 
and  stack  was  very  much  better  than  that  of  ordinary 
hand-bound  grain.  It  will  save  over  ordinary  reapers  at 
the  present  price  of  labor,  eight  dollars  per  day  ;  and  the 
saving  of  grain  and  board  of  men  more  than  pay  for  the 
wire.  I  hardly  see  how  it  can  be  improved,  and  am  quite 
sure  no  farmer  can  aiford  to  raise  any  considerable  amount 
of  grain  and  do  without  it. 

Works  Equally  Well  in  Heavy  or  Light  Grain. 

Prom  Leander  Millard,  Ionia,  Mich,,  Sept.  24, 
1877- — I  purchased  one  of  your  Harvesters  and  Self-Binders 
the  past  harvest,  and  wish  to  say  that  it  seems  perfect  in  all 
its  parts  and  in  its  working.  With  one  span  of  horses  I  cut 
72  acres  of  wheat  in  six  days,  the  work  being  better  and 
cleaner  than  I  ever  saw  before.  Most  of  the  crop  was 
very  heavy.  The  machine  worked  with  equal  satisfaction 
to  me  whether  the  grain  was  heavy  or  light. 

Prom  Lucas  Bros.,  Piqua,  O,,  Jan.  1, 1878. — After 
thorough  experience  with  your  Harvester  and  Self-Binder,  on 
our  farm,  the  last  harvest,  we  pronounce  it  a  complete  success, 
and  all  who  saw  it  work  declare  it  the  "  Boss  machine."  It 
cannot  be  beat  for  neat,  clean  work.  The  saving  of  time  and 
grain  is  immense.  The  Self-Binder  makes  us  quite  independ- 
ent of  extra  hands  in  harvest,  and  it  is  a  genuine  comfort  to 
have  your  grain  all  in  shock  as  fast  as  cut. 


Perfectly  Satisfied.  Saves  Labor,  Time 
and  Grain. 
Prom  John  Clark,  Hunter's  Creek,  Lapeer  Co., 
Mich.,  Aug.  16,  1877. — Having  purchased  one  of  your 
Harvesters  with  Self-Binder  last  harvest,  I  will  say  that  I  am 
perfectly  satisfied  with  it,  and  do  not  see  how  it  could 
be  improved.  When  I  started  the  Binder  the  first  day  at  9 
o'clock,  we  had  cut  but  once  around  a  fourteen-acre  field,  and 
we  finished  the  field  the  same  day,  besides  stopping  to  exhibit 
it  to  about  two  hundred  visitors.  I  also  CUt  in  seven 
hours  thirteen  acres  of  wheat,  yielding  thirty 
bushels  per  acre.  I  started  my  Russell  Reaper  (which  I 
considered  a  good  one)  in  the  field  with  the  Binder,  and  I  dis- 
covered that  the  Binder  did  not  waste  one-flfth  as 
much  grain  as  the  Russell,  and  the  Binder  did  i-ts  work 
much  the  best.  I  harvested  this  year  with  the  Binder 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  grain,  and  I  did  my 
harvesting  in  less  time  and  cheaper  than  I  have  ever  done  it 
before.  My  men  handled  the  machine-bound  grain  and  stacked 
it  with  more  ease  and  in  better  shape  than  the  hand-bound. 
If  I  should  succeed  this  Fall  in  getting  in  as  much  wheat  as  I 
expect  to,  I  shall  purchase  another  Binder  next  year.  I  have 
not  threshed,  but  I  do  not  anticipate  any  trouble  with  wire. 

Prom  Stephen  D.  Poster,  Tama  City,  Iowa, 
Aug.  18.  1877. — Last  season,  I  bought  of  your  agents  one 
of  your  Harvesters  and  one  of  your  new  Iron  Mowers.  I  have 
cut  each  year  ninety  acres  of  grain  with  the  Harvester, 
averaging  10  acres  per  day,  in  good  shape,  with  ease  to  the 
team,  and  have  not  had  a  breakage  on  it  yet.  It  runs  light, 
cuts  well,  elevates  square,  handles  easy,  and  gives  perfect  sat- 
isfaction. The  Mower  is  just  as  good  as  the  Harvester.  Have 
cut  with  it  in  badly  lodged  grass  and  through  rough  sloughs, 
and  it  does  not  clog.  I  cut  about  fifty  rods  in  heavy  grass, 
with  no  neckyoke  on  the  pole,  proving  that  there  was  no  side- 
draft.     I  think  it  the  best  Mower  built. 

Not  a  Single  Band  Broken.    Saving  Illustrated. 

Prom  Thomas  and  George  Hitter,  Circleville, 
Ohio,  Aug.  16,  1877. — We  wish  to  say  that  our  Harvester 
and  Binder  gives  full  satisfaction  in  every  respect.  We  have 
this  season  cut  and  bound  sixty-five  acres.  It  does  better 
work  than  any  machine  we  ever  used.  Have  worn  out  several 
machines  of  other  makes,  but  the  Wood  Harvester  does  the 
best  work  of  any  of  them.  It  is  very  easy  draft  and  easy  of 
management.  We  have  averaged  12  acres  of  wheat  per  day 
this  season,  in  a  very  heavy  crop.  We  consider  that  it  is  as 
satisfactory  in  all  kinds  of  grain  as  any  reel-rake  Reaper. 
We  had  some  very  bad  down  grain,  but  saved  it  all.  We  worked 
three  men,  and,  taking  into  consideration  board,  wages  and 
everything,  to  cut,  bind  and  shock,  our  wheat  did  not  cost  us 
more  than  60  cents  per  acre.  Our  grain  is  a  great  deal  better 
to  !  stack  than  the  hand-bound  wheat.  In  hauling,  pitching 
and  stacking  we  did  not  find  a  single  band  broken,  as  in 
hand  bound  wheat.  We  consider  that  we  saved  the  labor, 
board  and  wages  of  six  men  over  the  nsnal  mode  of 
gathering  our  grain. 

Prom  Jonathan  Smith  &  Son,  Hamilton,  O., 
Aug.  25,  1877. — The  Wood's  Self-Binder  we  purchased  of 
you  works  to  perfection,  and  gives  us  perfect  satisfaction.  We 
cut  and  bound  54  acres  of  barley  in  three  and  three-fourths 
days,  and  can  truly  say  we  never  before  had  as  good  a  job  of 
cutting  and  binding  done  on  our  farm.  No  set  of  hands  with 
an  ordinary  reaper  can  possibly  do  as  nice,  clean  work.  Our 
crain  was  very  heavy,  but  we  had  no  trouble  whatever,  the 
machine  cutting  it  all,  and  binding  in  good,  tight  sheaves, 
leaving  no  litterings  and  no  waste.  We  think  we  saved  enough 
grain  over  the  ordinary  reaper  to  pay  for  all  the  wire  we  used, 
and  wages  of  shockers  besides.  We  recommend  farmers  to 
buy  the  Wood  Harvester  and  Binder.  We  would  not  take  $500 
for  our  machine  and  be  without  one. 


LETTERS  FROM  PURCHASERS. 


13 


The  Best  and  Cheapest. 

From  Aaron  W.  Tabor,  Mt.  Carmel,  Franklin 

County,  Ind.,  Aug.  20,  1877. — Yours  received,  inquir- 
ing how  I  like  the  Wood's  Self-Binder  I  bought  of  you  in  June 
last.  I  will  say  I  think  it  the  Best  Harvesting  Machine  ever 
offered  to  the  farmer,  and  far  the  cheapest.  It  saves  $10  per 
day.  This  estimate  offsets  cost  of  wire,  board  and  pay  of 
hands.  Wire. cost  me  30  cents  per  acre  in  very  heavy  grain. 
The  quality  of  binding  is  far  superior  to  hand-binding.  I 
hauled  in  25  acres  of  barley  and  only  had  two  loose  sheaves 
in  the  lot.  In  threshing  there  is  no  more  trouble  with  wire 
than  with  straw  bands.  I  had  one  man  cut  bands  and  he  did 
it  as  fast  and  as  easy  as  straw  bands  could  be  cut  with  a  knife. 
We  threshed  600  bushels  of  barley  in  five  hours  with  no  trouble 
from  wire.  The  threshermen  said  they  preferred  those  sheaves 
to  any  other,  as  they  are  more  uniform  in  size,  bound  tight  and 
•handle  easier.  My  machine  is  6  ft.  6  in.  cut;  draft  is  light 
for  three  horses,  we  never  had  occasion  to  change  teams,  and 
we  cut  fifteen  acres  per  day.  It  does  better  and  cleaner 
work  than  any  other  kind  of  machine  in  standing  grain,  and 
just  as  good  as  any  other  in  down,  tangled  grain.  Cost  of 
repaii's  nothing. 

From  David  Swaney,  Magnolia,  111.,  Aug.  16, 
1877. — The  Walter  A.  Wood  Harvester  I  purchased  of  you 
is  a  captain,  and  I  and  my  sons  think  it  the  lightest  draft  and 
best  working  harvester  in  down  grain  we  ever  saw.  And  the 
Self-Binder  beats  the  world.  From  the  time  you  set  the 
binder  on  the  harvester,  until  we  finished  our  harvest,  we  had 

no  delays,  breakage  or  stoppage  of  any  kind.    My  two 

sons  did  the  shocking.  The  binding  and  the  shape  of  the 
sheaf  are  better  than  with  hand-binding.  It  will  pay  a  man 
to  own  a  Walter  A.  Wood  Harvester  and  Binder,  even  though 
he  may  not  raise  more  than  50  acres  of  small  grain  per  year. 

No  Use  for  a  Horse-Rake  after  a  Wood 
Self-Binder. 
From  Philip  Deyo,  Bradford,  111.,  Aug  22, 
1877. — In  answer  to  your  inquiry  about  the  Walter  A.  Wood 
Harvester  and  Self-Binder,  I  can  express  my  entire  satisfac- 
tion with  the  work  done  all  through  the  harvest  of  1877,  hav- 
ing cut  100  acres  of  wheat,  oats,  and  timothy  without  loss  of 
time  or  any  expense  for  repairs.  The  total  cost  per  acre  for 
harvesting  will  average  about  64  cents,  including  team,  board, 
wire,  oil  and  driver.  My  grain  dries  out  under  the  band 
quicker  than  grain  bound  by  hand.  I'have  no  difiBculty  with 
the  wire  band  in  threshing  or  in  feeding  the  straw  to  stock. 
I  have  saved  all  my  grain.  I  had  the  horse-rake  run  over 
some  of  the  stubble  to  see  if  any  grain  could  be  found,  but 
could  not  get  a  handful  of  straw  in  driving  the  rake  sixty  rods  ; 
in  fact,  I  never  had  my  harvest  done  so  cleanly  or  cheaply  as 
with  the  Walter  A.  W^ood  Harvester  and  Self-Binder.  We  did 
not  seem  to  have  any  harvest,  we  did  the  work  so  easily.  I 
believe  the  Binder  will  take  the  place  of  all  other  kinds  of 
harvesting  machines. 

The  Record  of  Three  Harvests. 

From  John  Lightner  and  B.  F.  Stoekwell, 
Tama  City,  Iowa,  Aug.  14,  1877.— The  Wood  Har- 
vester and  Binder  we  bought  of  Parker  &  Lewis,  in  1875,  is 
still  doing  its  work  nobly.  We  cut  and  bound,  in  1875,  fifty 
acres,  and  last  season  about  100  acres,  and  this  season  114 
acres.  Its  cutting  and  elevating  cannot  be  equaled  by  any 
other  harvester,  and  it  is  easily  adapted  to  different  kinds  of 
grain,  and  is  of  light  draft.  The  wire  costs  us  from  20  to  30 
cents  per  acre,  and  we  can  cut  and  bind  for  $1.00  per 
acre  and  make  good  wages.  The  wire  bands  cause  no 
trouble.  Threshermen  say  they  would  rather  thresh  it  when 
so  bound.  We  have  all  confidence  in  the  Harvester  and  Self- 
Binder.  It  is  apparently  in  as  good  condition  from  wear  as 
when  it  came  from  the  factory. 


Wire  Bands  a  Decided  Advantage. 

From  A.  S.  Marshall,  Marietta,  O.,  Aug.  24, 
1877. — I  purchased  this  year  from  the  Nye  Hardware  Co,, 
your  agents  at  this  place,  one  of  your  Harvesters  and  Self- 
Binders,  and  also  a  Single  Sweep-Rake  Reaper,  and  desire  to 
report  to  you  my  experience  with  both  of  them.  In  regard 
to  the  Harvester  and  Self-Binder,  I  unhesitatingly  pronounce 
its  cutting  and  elevating  qualities  complete.  I 
would  prefer  straight  grain,  but  can  do  a  good  job  when  the 
grain  is  leaning.  I  find  the  cost  per  acre  for  harvesting  with 
it  to  be  about  $1,  including  team,  wire,  shocking,  etc.  My 
straw  was  very  heavy,  and  the  yield  of  wheat  was  31.1  bushels 
per  acre.  I  think  that  the  wire  bands  have  a  de- 
cided advantage  in  the  shock  over  straw  bands, 
as  the  grain  will  not  sprout  with  the  former.  My  threshermen 
were  a  little  afraid  of  the  wire  bands  at  first,  but  now,  since 
they  have  seen  the  result,  they  prefer  them  to  Straw,  as 
all  the  thumping  caused  by  straw  bands  going  through  the 
Cylinder  is  avoided.  In  all  my  crop  that  was  cut 
with  the  Harvester  and  Binder,  but  one  bundle 
came  loose  in  the  entire  handling,  while  that  bound  by 
hand  with  straw  was  ccgistantly  coming  undone. 

In  threshing  grain  bound  with  straw,  a  great  portion  of  the 
band  does  not  thresh  at  all.  I  believe  that  the  grain  lost  in 
that  way  will  pay  for  the  wire,  and  I  also  think  that  the 
Harvester  and  Binder  will  take  the  wheat 
enough  cleaner  off  from  the  field  over  any  other 
reaper  I  have  ever  seen  to  pay  the  entire  ex- 
pense of  reaping  and  shocking. 

I  cannot  speak  in  too  high  terms  of  the  Sweep-Rake  Reaper, 
and  in  down  and  tangled  grain  its  work  is  simply 
wonderful.  I  congratulate  you  upon  the  success  of  your 
machines. 

From  John  Whitten,  Milford,  Ind.,  Aug.  21, 
1877. — I  bought,  this  season,  one  of  your  large  sized  Har- 
vesters and  Binders,  and  cut  90  acres  of  wheat  with  it.  One 
day  we  cut  twenty  acres,  and  we  can  average 
that  every  day  if  we  have  good  weather.  I  never 
had  a  harvest  saved  so  perfectly.  The  binding  was  so  perfect 
that  not  one  sheaf  came  unbound  in  shocking  and  stacking. 
No  loss  of  time  in  fixing,  as  nothing  broke ;  was  not  at  any 
expense,  except  for  wire  and  shocking.  My  machine  is  in  ex- 
cellent condition,  and  ready  for  another  crop.  They  are  a 
grand  success.  Could  not  think  of  cutting  with  anything 
else. 

From  J.  L.  Brown,    Greeley,  Col.,   Aug.    11, 

1877.— I  have  just  finished  my  harvest  of  over  a  hundred 
acres  with  the  W^alter  A.  Wood  Harvester  and  Binder.  I  can- 
sider  the  Self-Binding  Harvester  the  greatest  suc- 
cess of  the  age  for  saving  both  grain  and  labor. 

From  Wm.  Grove,  Leesburg,  Ind.,  Aug.  17. 
1877. — I  have  finished  my  second  year's  work  with  your 
Harvester  and  Binder,  and  like  it  better  than  ever.  1 
have  cut  100  acres  with  it  this  season,  and,  as  my  boys  did 
the  shocking,  I  have  not  paid  out  a  dollar,  save  for  wire — no 
expense  for  repairs.  The  machine  is  apparently  in  good  order 
for  next  year's  harvest.  It  does  not  owe  me  anything,  if  I 
never  hitch  on  to  it  again. 

From  S.  W.  Brown,  Littleton,  Col.,  August  21, 
1877. — I  have  completed  my  harvest.  My  grain  is  nearly 
all  in  the  stack.  I  used  the  W.  A.  Wood  Harvester  and  Binder 
purchased  of  you  this  season,  and  am  more  than  pleased  with 
it,  as  my  grain  is  well  bound,  better  than  by  the  old  fashioned 
way.  I  consider  the  machine  a  success  as  a  harvester  and 
self-binder,  and,  in  an  economical  point  of  view  alone,  it  is  the 
only  way  in  which  grain  ought  to  be  cut  and  bound.  The 
Wood  Harvester  and  Self-Binder  have  my  hearty  endorsement. 


14 


LETTERS  PROM  PURCHASERS. 


Three  Years'  Experience  Feeding  Wire-Bound 

Straw  to  Stock,   with   no   Trouble 

of  any  Kind. 

From  H.  G.  Van  Vlack,  Cottage  Grove,  Cass 
County,  Iowa,  Aug.  11,  1877.— 1  have  been  running 
one  of  your  Self-Binders  on  my  farm  for  the  last  three  years, 
cutting  about  90  acres  per  year.  It  does  good,  clean  work. 
The  draft  is  easy  and  light,  and  the  machine  is  easy  to  manage 
and  control,  elevating  in  good  shape,  and  is  well  calculated  to 
operate  well  in  all  kinds  of  grain.  It  cost  me  this  year  37 
cents  per  acre  for  wire.  I  regard  the  Harvester  and  Binder  a 
perfect  success.  My  grain  was  very  hetvy  this  year.  Re- 
garding the  wire  hurting  any  stock  :  I  have  fed  the  straw  to 
my  stock  and  they  do  well  on  it,  with  no  trouble  of  any  kind. 
I  paid  §3'25  for  my  machine,  and  have  already  got  all  my 
money  back  in  saving  of  wages  and  grain. 

Prom  P.  M.  Hearn,  Leesburg,  Ind.,  Aug.  20, 
2^877. — I  have  one  of  your  Harvesters  and  Binders,  6  ft.  6  in. 
cut,  with  which  I  have  cut  and  bound  80  acres  of  wheat  and 
5  acres  of  oats,  doing  the  work  far  better  than  in  hand-bind- 
ing after  a  Self-Rake  Reaper.  The  sheaves  are  in  much  bet- 
ter shape  for  shocking  and  stacking;  and  there  is  a  great 
saving  of  grain,  as  nothing  is  left  on  the  ground  by  the  Har- 
vester. I  had  to  contend  with  all  kinds  of  grain, 
and  all  kinds  of  weather,  and  I  call  the  machine 

a  perfect  success.  Mine  is  in  excellent  condition  for 
another  crop,  and  I  think  it  a  durable  machine.  The  wire 
bands  are  not  objectionable.  My  wife  calls  the  Binder  a 
success  on  the  board  question. 

Prom  Sol.  Thomas  and  Uriah  Thomas,  Tren- 
ton, Butler  Co.,  O.,  Aug.  20,  1877.— The  Wood  Har- 
vester, with  Binder  Attachment,  which  we  purchased  of  your 
agents,  Hooven  &  Sons,  Hamilton,  O.,  proved  to  be  a  complete 
success.  We  harvested  80  acres  of  grain,  consisting  of  wheat, 
barley  and  oats.  The  straw  was  unusually  heavy  and  badly 
lodged,  which,  with  the  heavy  rains  that  fell  during  harvest, 
enabled  us  to  test  its  merits  fully.  The  work  performed  by  it 
in  standing  grain  is  better  than  can  possibly  be  done  by  hand. 

In  tangled  grain  the  work  is  done  fully  as  good  if  not  better 
than  is  usually  done  by  hand-binding.  The  cost  of  wire  per 
acre  was  31  cents,  repairs  nothing.  In  threshing,  we  allowed 
the  wire  to  pass  through  with  the  straw,  without  impeding  the 
machine  in  the  least;  the  rate  in  wheat  being  70  bushels  per 
hour.  We  would  not  part  with  our  machine  for  twice  the 
price  of  it,  without  the  privilege  of  buying  another. 

Prom  Luther  Sherman,  Norwalk,  O.,  Aug.  24, 
\Sn. — I  own  one  of  your  Harvesters  and  Binders,  purchased 
this  season,  and  it  has  worked  to  my  entire  satisfaction,  cut- 
ting and  binding  43  acres  of  wheat  and  20  of  oats,  most  of 
which  was  done  with  a  small  team  only  weighing  2,000  pounds. 
I  have  used  heretofore  four  or  five  other  machines  for  har- 
vesting, and  my  team  handles  the  Wood  Harvester  and  Binder 
with  more  ease  than  either  of  the  others.  The  Harvester  and 
Binder  work  in  a  superior  manner,  even  on  rough  and  uneven 
ground,  cutting  a  full  swath  and  saving  all  the  grain,  and 
costing  me  but  25  cents  per  acre  for  binding-wire.  I  have 
threshed  my  grain  and  have  not  been  at  all  inconvenienced  by 
the  wire  bands.  In  many  respects  I  think  them  an  improve- 
ment over  straw  bands. 

Prom  C.  P.  Slonaker,  Trenton,  Butler  County, 
Ohio,  August  28,  1877. — I  saw  one  of  your  Harvesters 
and  Binders  work,  and  I  liked  it  so  well  I  bought  one  ;  I  got 
•ilong  very  well,  and  liked  it  better  every  day  ;  I  cut  50  acres, 
and  it  worked  better  than  any  self-rake  reaper  I  ever  saw ; 
and  it  did  it  clean,  so  clean  that  I  thought  it  wasn't  worth 
while  to  rake  the  stubble,  while  my  neighbor  raked  his  field 
twice,  and  then  it  wasn't  as  clean  as  mine.  I  have  threshed 
some  of  my  grain,  and  we  had  no  trouble  with  wire.  The 
sheaves  are  much  better  to  handle  than  those  bound  with 
straw. 


Forty-three  Acres  of   Wheat,  Yielding  1,400 

Bushels,    Bound   with    145 

Pounds  of  Wire. 

Prom  Daniel  Loose,  Melmore,  Seneca  County, 
Ohio,  Nov.  26,  1877.— The  Harvester  and  Self-Binder 
which  I  purchased  of  your  agent,  F.  W.  Byrne,  of  TiflSn,  Ohio, 
has  proved  a  decided  success.  I  cut  and  bound  43  acres  of 
heavy  wheat,  12  acres  of  it  leaning  all  one  way,  some  nearly 
on  the  ground.  I  cut  clear  around  the  piece,  cutting,  eleva- 
ting and  binding  well  on  all  sides.  In  lodged,  heavy  or  short 
grain,  it  works  admirably.  It  is  easily  adjusted  in  changing 
from  short  to  long  or  heavy  grain.  It  saves  all  the  grain.  The 
Self-Binding  Machine  is  so  far  ahead  of  my  self-rakes  and  my 
dropper  that  I  have  set  them  both  aside  for  good.  Your  Bind- 
er, I  think,  runs  fully  as  easy  as  a  self-rake.  My  expense  for 
harvesting  was  nothing  but  oil  and  wire.  I  saved  at  the  rate 
of  $10  per  day,  not  counting  board  and  housework  ;  and  I 
would  not  take  $500  for  my  machine  if  I  could  not  get 
another.  The  wire  was  no  bother  in  threshing,  and  my  cattle 
eat  the  straw  and  leave  the  wire  untouched.  It  does  not  harm 
them.  I  threshed  1,400  bushels  of  wheat  off  43  acres,  and 
bound  it  with  145  pounds  of  wire. 

Prom  Lewis  Einsel,  TiflQ.n,  Seneca  County, 
Ohio,  Nov.  26,  1877. — I  bought  one  of  your  Harvesters 
with  Self-Binder  the  past  season,  and  find  it  an  entire  success. 
I  cut  44  acres  of  wheat,  yielding  1,150  bushels,  and  although 
my  grain  was  in  bad  condition,  and  tangled  in  all  shapes,  the 
Harvester  and  Binder  cut  and  bound  it  clean.  The  cost  of  the 
wire  was  33  cents  per  acre.  I  estimate  the  saving  over  hand- 
binding  at  $10  per  day  ;  besides,  the  work  is  done  much 
cleaner  and  better.  The  sheaves  handle  well  in  shocking, 
hauling  and  stacking — better  than  after  hand-binding.  The 
wire  is  no  detriment  whatever.  Both  the  Harvester  and  the 
Binder  are  well  made  and  reliable,  and  make  just  the  machine 
for  grain-raisers. 

Prom  George  W.  Waldorf,  Reily,  Butler  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  Sept.  17,  1877.— The  Wood  Harvester  and 
Binder  I  bought  of  you  has  given  me  entire  satisfaction.  I 
think  it  the  best  machine  for  harvesting  purposes  I  have  ever 
used.  In  cutting  and  saving  grain  it  cannot  be  excelled.  In 
cutting  and  binding  23  acres  of  wheat,  averaging  20  bushels 
per  acre,  the  expense  was  $7.20,  cutting  from  10  to  12  acres 
per  day.  As  the  sheaves  are  straight  and  well  bound,  it  makes 
it  easier  for  handling  them.  In  threshing,  it  is  far  superior  to 
straw  bands,  leaving  no  litter.  The  wire  bands  do  not  inter- 
fere at  all,  but  pass  off  to  the  straw  stack  in  full  length. 
Draft  very  light  for  three  horses.  The  Wood  Seif-Binder  is, 
in  my  estimation,  and  that  of  a  host  of  witnesses,  unsurpassed, 
and  I  recommend  it  to  all  in  need  of  a  first-class  Harvester  and 
Binder. 

Prom  William  W.  Bowers,  Seven  Mile,  Butler 
County,  Ohio,  August  23,  1877.— Regarding  the  Wood 
Harvester  and  Binder  I  bought  of  you,  I  will  say,  I  think  it 
is  the  machine  for  farmers  ;  I  cut  and  bound  50  acres  of  barley, 
very  heavy,  down,  tangled,  and  straw  broken.  The  machine 
went  right  through  without  any  trouble.  In  regard  to  draft, 
I  think  the  machine  runs  as  light  for  three  horses  as  any  self- 
rake  does  for  two,  and  I  have  used  all  kinds  ;  it  cuts  well, 
binds  tight,  and  takes  it  clean  ;  we  cut  50  acres  in  five  days, 
at  an  expense  of  40  cents  per  acre  for  wire  ;  we  hauled  in  our 
grain,  and  had  no  bother  with  loose  bands,  or  with  wire  in 
threshing. 

Prom  James  K.  Pugh,  Malone,  111.,  August  15, 
1877. — The  Wood  Harvester  and  Self-Binder  I  bought  of  you 
this  season  works  to  a  charm,  cutting  and  binding 
better  than  could  be  done  by  hand.  I  can  truth- 
fully recommend  it  to  all  who  wish  their  grain  cut  and  bound 
in  a  cheap,  expeditious  and  eflB.cient  manner. 


LETTERS  FROM  PURCHASERS. 


15 


Forty  Acres  Cut  and  Bound  in  Two  Days. 

Prom  John  Moyers,  Oxford,  Mich.,  July  23, 

1877. — The  Wood  Harvester  and  Self-Binder  I  purchased  of 
you  last  week  is  a  grand  success,  being  far  ahead  of  anything 
I  ever  imagined  could  be  made,  to  assist  the  farmer  in  securing 
his  crops.  My  son,  a  young  man  of  18,  has  operated  it  alone 
so  far,  and  with  perfect  SUCCess.  He  cut  in  just  tWO 
days  a  field  containing  forty  acres  with  one  team  of  three 
horses,  without  change,  going  half  a  mile  to  dinner,  and  taking 
a  good  "nooning."  The  Binder  did  its  duty  every  time.  I 
can  safely  say  that  the  Wood  Harvester  and  Binder  will  save 
one  bushel  of  wheat  per  acre  over  any  self-raker  or  dropper  I 
ever  used,  and  I  have  at  present  three  on  my  farm.  It  is 
indeed  wonderful  to  see  how  successfully  this  machine  does  its 
work ;  too  much  cannot  be  said  in  its  praise.  You  will  have 
a  good  Binder  trade  in  this  section  next  year.  Johnnie,  with 
his  Harvester  and  Binder,  has  attracted  as  much  attention  as 
Barnum  would  with  his  "  what  is  it." 

King  of  the  Harvest  Field.  Saved  More  than  its 
Price  in  One  Season. 
From  C.  R.  Brown,  Harvard,  111.,  Aug,  13, 
1877. — Having  completed  cutting  my  harvest,  I  thought  1 
would  write  you  how  I  like  the  machines.  As  to  the  Mower, 
it  is  simply  perfect,  and  I  cannot  see  how  it  can  be  excelled. 
My  Harvester  and  Binder  Jiave  given  me  perfect  satisfaction. 
You  can  talk  about  King  Corn  and  King  Cotton,  but  your  Har- 
vester and  Binder  is  surely  the  King  of  the  Harvest  Field.  I 
am  well  satisfied  that  the  Harvester  and  Binder  does  not  owe 
me  one  cent.  I  know  that  they  have  saved  me  more  than 
their  price  in  the  saving  of  the  grain  and  the  labor  of  binders, 
and  also  in  handling,  as,  so  far,  not  one  bundle  has  unbound 
or  come  apart  in  stacking,  and  I  have  stacked  about  100  acres. 
I  cut  about  150  acres  with  your  Harvester  and  Binder,  and 
the  other  hundred  acres  with  the  *  *  *  *  Harvester,  and  I 
could  see  very  easily  which  I  liked  the  best. 

Prom  Leonard  Spalding,  Sheridan  Township, 
Powesheik  Co.,  Iowa,  Aug.  16,  1877.— In  1866,  I 

purchased  one  of  your  Harvesters  and  Binders,  and  cut 
and  bound  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres,  and  put  it  in 
the  shock  with  the  help  of  only  one  man.  AH  the  above 
work  was  done  in  my  own  grain.  The  Binder  hardly 
gave  me  a  moment's  trouble  all  through  the  harvest.  This 
year  I  have  cut  and  bound  seventy-five  acres,  and,  with  the 
exception  of  the  new  improvements  not  being  properly  put  on 
and  thereby  causing  some  breakage  at  first,  it  worked  as  well  as  it 
did  last  year ;  and,  I  believe,  is  good  for  fifteen  years  tO 
come.  The  wire  costs  me  from  twenty  to  thirty  cents  per 
acre.  The  bundles  hold  better  than  hand-bound  grain,  and 
make  no  tfonble  in  threshing.  We  let  the  wires  pass 
through  the  thresher,  and  they  come  out  full  length.  I 
think  the  Harvester  and  Binder  is  the  cheapest  machine  in  use 
to  do  harvesting  with,  as  it  takes  less  help  to  pay  and  board 
and  does  such  clean  work. 

No  Expense  for  Repairs  in  Two  Seasons'  Use. 

Prom  Hem-y  Howdyshell,  Tama  City,  Iowa, 
Aug.  15,  1877. — I  cut  and  bound  with  my  Wood  Harvester 
and  Binder,  in  1876,  ninety  acres  of  grain,  and  this  year 
eighty  acres,  averaging  as  high  as  fourteen  acres  per  day 
through  the  harvest.  I  believe  by  changing  teams  I  could  cut 
twenty  acres  per  day.  The  wire  this  year  has  cost  me  twenty- 
two  cents  per  acre  in  grain  that  will  yield  from  twenty-five  to 
thirty  bushels  per  acre,  and  I  consider  this  cheaper  than  the 
mere  board  of  men  to  bind  it  by  band.     J  like  the  binding 

better  than  that  done  by  hand,  as  it  is  cleaner  and  better 
work.  I  have  stacked  a  large  stack  without  having  one 
bundle  come  loose  in  hiindllng.  i  have  been  to  no  expense 
for  repairs  on  the  Hinder  for  two  years'  work,  and  have 

had  no  breakages,  and  it  is  as  good  as  new,  and  gives  mc  per- 
fect satisfaction.  It  runs  light,  is  easily  controlled,  and  is  all 
right. 


The  Boss  Machine.    Leaves  no  Grain  Uncut 
or  Unbound. 

Prom  James  Shepherd,  Maud's  Station,  O., 
Aug.  20,  1877.— The  Wood  8elf-Binder  we  bought  of  you 
this  season  gave  us  entire  satisfaction.  We  believe  we  now 
have  the  "boss"  machine.  We  cut  and  bound  115  acres  of 
grain  in  all  conditions,  down,  tangled,  wet,  dry,  good  and  bad, 
and  did  the  nicest,  cleanest  job  we  ever  had  done  on  our  farm, 
at  an  expense  of  $24.40  for  wire,  or  about  21  cents  per  acre. 
The  machine  leaves  no  grain  uncut  or  unbound.  Our  neigh- 
bors say  they  never  saw  as  clean,  nice  work  as  the  Binder  <Jid. 
For  the  amount  of  work  the  machine  does,  it  runs  very  light. 
It  does  not  sink  into  wet  ground  like  ordinary  reapers,  owing 
to  its  very  broad  wheel.  Our  land  is  rolling,  some  of  it  very 
rough,  but  it  makes  no  ditference  in  the  use  of  the  machine. 
We  have  cut  as  much  as  17  acres  per  day  ;  our  average  was  14 
acres  per  day,  and  we  averaged  25  sheaves  per  minute  while 
in  motion.  The  capacity  of  the  machine  is  only  limited  by 
the  number  of  hours  it  is  run.  In  threshing  we  had  no  trouble 
with  the  wire  band.  The  grain  feeds  nicer  than  when  bound 
by  hand  with  straw,  as  it  does  not  "  chug."  Our  women  did 
not  have  to  work  themselves  to  death  this  season,  cooking  for 
a  gang  of  harvest  hands,  neither  did  it  take  a  year's  profits 
to  feed  and  pay  them.  In  this  One  item  we  think  we 
saved  nearly  enough  to  pay  the  ditference  in  price  between 
the  Binder  and  ordinary  reapers.  Farmers  that  are  wide 
awake  to  their  own  interests  should,  and  no  doubt  will,  buy 
the  Wood  Self-Binder. 

Prom  J.  W,  McGinley,  A.  A.  McGinley  and 
James  P  Douglas,  Port  Collins,  Col.,  Aug  11, 

1877. — We  have  used  the  Walter  A.  Wood  Harvester  and 
Binder  this  harvest  and  have  cut  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres,  and  will  say  that  we  believe  the  Harvester  and 
Binder  to  be  a  perfect  success — the  best  machine  that  we  have 
ever  used.  We  have  cut,  elevated  an<l  bound  wheat  and  oats 
that  had  sunflowers  that  stood  six  feet  high,  and  twenty 
acres  of  wheat  that  was  over  five  feet  long  and  all  down  and 
tangled.  The  machine  cut  it  clean  and  did  a  good  job,  and 
we  will  just  say  that  we  will  recommend  the  Walter  A.  Wood 
Harvester  and  Binder  to  all  farmers  wishing  to  buy  a  machine 
for  speed  and  economy. 

Prom  Joel  Smith,  Milan,  Erie  Co.,  O.,  Aug.  23, 
1877. — The  Wood  Harvester  and  Binder  is,  in  my  opinion, 
the  best  harvesting  machine  that  the  farmer  can  use.  It  has 
done  for  me  better  work  than  the  Champion  or  Hubbard  Reap- 
ers in  the  same  field  of  grain,  about  30  acres  of  which  was 
standing  grain,  and  4  acres  being  oats,  tangled  in  every  direc- 
tion and  much  of  it  tiat  to  the  ground.  The  stubble  left  by 
the  Wood  Harvester  and  Binder  was  not  worth  raking,  and, 
if  horses  tell,  the  draft  was  no  more  than  the  others.  The 
Walter  A.  Wood  Mower  on  my  farm  seems  to  do  more  and 
better  work  than  the  *  *  *  *  and  the  *  *  *  *  which  I  had 
in  the  same  field  on  equal  ground. 

Prom  David  Barnes,  Big  Thompson,  Col.,  Aug. 

27,  1877. —  For  a  second  time  1  add  my  testimonial  in  favor 
of  tlie  working  of  the  Wood  Harvester  and  Self-Bindcr  pur- 
chased of  you  last  season  (1876),  and  I  cannot  use  words  to 
express  my  thoughts:  but  can  say,  the  longer  I  USe  it 
the  better  it  suits  me,  as  it  does  its  work  in  a  man- 
ner unapproachable  by  any  other  machine  I  ever  saw.  My 
harvest  is  now  over,  and   my   Fonr   Hundred    Acres,  cut 

and  bound  in  better  condition  than  any  previous  crops 
harvested  by  me,  and  with  less  trouble.  The  Harvester  and 
Binder  purchased  of  you  late  this  season  is  perfection  itseif. 
The  large  amount  saveil  in  expense  an<l  grain  has  taught  me 
that  no  farmer  can  afford  to  be  without  one,  as  the  Harvester 
and  Binder  are  durable,  and  with  care  will  last  for  years. 
The  cost  of  wire  per  acre,  for  my  whole  crop,  thirty-five  cents. 


+ 


16 


LETTERS  FROM  PURCHASERS. 


No  Loose  Bundles  or  Scatterings. 

From  Timothy  Brown,  Stillman  Valley,  Ogle 
County,  111.,  Aug.  24,  1877.— The  Wood  Harvester  with 
Self- Binder  I  bought  of  your  agent  at  Davis  Junction,  last 
season,  has  worked  to  my  entire  satisfaction.  I  have  cut  and 
bound,  this  season,  56  acres  of  heavy  oats  and  wheat  in  better 
shape  than  could  have  been  done  with  the  best  self-rake  reaper 
and  bound  by  hand.  The  elevating  is  ahead  of  anything  I 
have  ever  seen.  It  is  perfectly  adapted  to  all  kinds  of  grain. 
The  cost  of  wire  per  acre  is  from  28  to  30  cents.  The  condi- 
tion of  grain  in  stacking  is  far  ahead  of  that  bound  by  hand, 
there  being  no  loose  bundles  or  scattering  grain.  The  cry 
against  wire  in  straw  I  consider  as  perfectly  absurd.  The 
threshers  who  threshed  my  grain  last  season  are  anxious  for 
the  job  this  season,  they  experiencing  no  difficulty  in  thresh- 
ing. I  can  cut  and  bind  with  three  horses,  on  an  average,  12 
to  14  acres  per  day — about  what  could  be  cut  and  bound  with 
a  self-rake  and  ci-ew  of  four  to  five  men  to  bind.  The  cost  of 
wire  will  not  exceed  the  cost  of  board  ;  thus,  by  using  the 
Harvester  and  Binder,  I  can  save  the  wages  of  fivo 
binders.  As  to  durability,  I  consider  it  among  the  best,  as 
I  have  run  mine  through  two  harvests,  and  the  cost  for  re- 
pairs has  been  only  5>2.50.  I  would  not  exchange  for  a  new 
one,  provided  I  had  to  draw  the  new  one  home  and  set  it  up. 

From  William  M.  Knoop,  Casstown,  Miami 
County,  Ohio,  January  21,  1878. — The  Harvester  and 
Binder  bought  of  your  agent,  D.  McConnaughey,  gave  entire 
satisfaction.  My  grain  was  heavy,  down  and  tangled,  but  was 
saved  better  than  any  other  machine  could  do  it  and  bound 
better  than  could  be  done  by  hand.  My  machine  was  not  out 
of  order  the  entire  harvest,  and  I  believe  it  to  be  very  durable. 
All  spectators  pronounced  it  a  success.  It  is  easily  managed. 
My  cost  for  wire  was  81  cents  per  acre.  I  found  no  trouble 
in  cutting  bands  or  from  broken  wire  in  threshing,  letting  the 
wire  run  through  with  the  straw.  I  have  fed  the  straw  to  my 
horses  without  injury.  The  Wood  Self-Binder  is  as  perfect  a 
piece  of  machinery  as  I  ever  saw. 

From  Joseph  Ray,  Collinsville,  Ohio,  August  25, 
1877. — The  Harvester  and  Self-Binder  I  purchased  from  you 
this  season  did  better  work  than  I  thought  it  could  do.  We 
cut  some  as  heavy  straw  this  year  as  I  have  ever  seen,  and  the 
grain  was  all  flat  down.  But  the  Binder  did  better  work  than 
could  have  been  done  with  any  other  machine,  with  a  set  of 
hands.  We  cut  34  acres  of  grain  at  an  expense  of  32  cents 
per  acre  for  wire.     We  had  no  use  for  hands. 


Did  More  than  was  Claimed  for  it. 
From  Phillip  Heater,  Seven  Mile,  Butler  Co., 
O.,  Aug.  20,  1877. — The  Wood  Harvester  and  Binder  I 
bought  of  you  this  season  has  proved  a  success,  and  has  given 
entire  satisfaction.  I  cut  and  bound  seventy  acres  of  heavy 
grain,  some  of  it  down  and  tangled  the  worst  kind.  I  did 
better  and  cleaner  work  than  I  could  have  done  with  any  other 
kind  of  machine,  and  with  one-third  of  the  expense. 
The  machine  runs  easily,  has  little  or  no  side-draft,  and  is 
easily  managed.  We  cut  from  twelve  to  fifteen  acres  per  day, 
at  an  expense  of  thirty  cents  per  acre  for  wire.  I  can,  there- 
fore, recommend  it,  as  it  did  more  than  was  claimed  for  it 
when  I  bought  it. 

From  Matthew  Budd,  Millbrook,  Kendall  Co., 
Illinois,  January  1,  1878. — With  the  Wood  Harvester 
and  Binder,  purchased  last  harvest,  we  cut  nine  acres  of  wheat, 
usiag  two  horses  till  accustomed  to  the  machine,  then  putting 
on  a  third  horse  and  working  it  to  the  best  of  satisfaction.  We 
next  cut  twenty-five  aci'es  of  oats,  some  very  heavy,  some  light 
and  averaging  over  fifty  bushels  per  acre ;  then  about  fifty 
acres  of  timothy,  which  was  quite  thin,  the  Binder  doing  well. 
After  harvesting  and  having  threshing  done  for  twenty-five 
years,  we  can  safely  say  we  have  never  had  so  little  straw  left 
on  the  field  or  so  little  loose  stuff  around  the  stacks  and 
thresher.  The  expense  of  wire  was  25  cents  per  acre,  but 
most  of  the  timothy  being  thin,  reduced  the  average  very 
much.  No  necessity  for  cutting  narrow  swaths  or  waiting  for 
the  Binder  to  rest.  Give  him  good  oil  and  good  wire  and  he 
will  bind  all  you  can  cut. 

From  James  Bowyer,  Hamilton,  Ohio,  August 
28,  1877. — The  Wood  Self-Binder  I  boughtofyou  this  season 
cut  and  bound  up  in  good  shape  65  acres  of  wheat,  oats  and 
barley,  some  of  it  very  badly  down  and  tangled  up.  The 
work  was  done  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner ;  I  am  well 
pleased  with  it ;  the  machine  runs  as  light  as  could  be  expected 
of  a  machine  that  does  the  work  it  does ;  the  bundles  are  well 
tied — better  than  hand-binding  ;  the  machine  saves  a  bushel 
to  the  acre  over  an  ordinary  machine ;  I  can  recommend  the 
machine  to  any  farmer  to  buy. 

From  J.  N.  &  I.  Long,  Boone,  la.,  Dec.  28, 
1877, — We  bought,  last  harvest,  from  your  agent  at  Boone,  the 
Farmers'  Lumber  Company,  one  of  your  Harvesters  and  Self- 
Binders,  with  which  we  cut  all  our  grain,  about  100  acres,  cut 
and  bound  in  the  most  perfect  manner.  We  are  highly 
pleased  with  it,  and  do  not  hesitate  to  recommend  it  to  all 
farmers  who  have  much  grain  to  cut. 


Additional  Testimony  In  favor  of  the  Wood  Self-Binding  Harvester. 

^Our  Self-Biadiag  Harvester  has  au  extensive  sale  ia  the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Illinois, 
Missouri,  Kansas,  Texas,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Nebraska  and  Colorado  and  the  Territories,  and  to  any  one 
who  so  desires,  we  will  send  circulars  containing  testimonials  from  any  of  the  States  mentioned,  not  covered 
by  the  letters  given  in  this  circular. 


The  fame  of  Walter  A.  Wood's  Self-Binding  Harvester  is  world-wide. 

Now  used  in  Europe,  South  Atnerica,  South  Africa,  Australia,  New  Zealand, 
AND  ALL  THE  GRAIN-CROWING  SECTIONS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


When  you  order  Machines  or  Repairs,  be  particular  to  mention  the  following : 

1  St.  Town,  County  and  State  to  which  they  are  to  be  shipped, 
and  by  what  route. 

2d.    Whether  by  Freight  or  Express. 

3d.  Number  and  Style  of  Machine  for  which  Repairs  are 
wanted.  Name  or  Number  of  the  Part  wanted,  and  in  what  year 
the  Machine  was  made  or  purchased. 

4th.    Your  Post  Office  Address. 

Repairs  for  Machines  will  be  kept  by  our  agents,  and  at  our  branch  offices  at  New  York,  Chicago,  111., 
Madison,  Wis.,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  and  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

AU  orders  fm  Machines  or  Repairs  will  receive  prompt  attention.  Any  person  who  has  ever  purchased  a 
Machine  made  at  our  establishment  can  at  all  times  be  supplied  at  reasonable  prices  by  us,  or  our  agents,  with 
any  Extra  Parts  they  may  require. 

In  order  to  facilitate  convenience  and  accuracy  in  ordering  Repairs,  we  issue  a  Separate  Pamphlet  giving 
Diagrams,  Description,  Number  and  Price  of  every  part  of  our  Machines,  arranged  under  appropriate  heads- 
The  above  mentioned  pamphlet  will  also  contain  full  and  complete  instructions  for  setting  up  and  operating  all 
our  diflferent  styles  of  Machines.  One  of  these  pamphlets  is  furnished  with  each  Machine,  and  every  agent  will 
have  a  supply  of  them  to  furnish  customers,  when  called  for. 


OUR  LINE  OF  MACHINES. 

From  it  all  Classes  of  Farmers  can  Select  Machines  Thoroughly 

Adapted  to  their  Special  Wants. 

The  addition  of  the  Self-Binding  Harvester  to  our  line  of  machines  renders  it  much  more  complete  than 
that   of  any  other  manufacturer,   comprising,  as  it  does,   Single   MoWGrS,   of  different  widths   of  cut ; 

Chain-Rake  Reapers,  Single  and  Combined,  of  different  widths  of  cut ;    Sweep  or  Reel- 
Rake  Reapers,  Single  or  Combined,  of  different  widths  of  cut,  and  Self-Binding  Harvesters, 

of  different  widths  of  cut. 

All  these  styles  of  machines  are  sold  upon  their  merits,  and  are  fully  warranted. 

Order  early,  and  thus  make  sure  of  getting  a  machine  in  good  season. 


If  this  circular  is  sent  or  given  to  any  one  who  can  more  easily  read  or  better  understand  it  in  the 
German,  Norwegian,  Swedish  or  Bohemian  languages,  we  or  any  of  our  Agents  will  send  a  copy  in  either  of  the 
above  languages  desired,  upon  application,  free. 


THE  WALTER  A.  WOOD 

Self-Binding  Harvester. 

ITS  SUCCESS  ABROAD. 


First  Frizs  Ovsr  all  Otks  liy  tli&^  Eo  jal  %iGultural  kist;  of  En^lacl. 

• 

At  the  recent  Show  of  the  lloyal  Agricultural  Society  of  England  (the  most 
important  society  in  Great  Britain,  and  whose  reputation  for  its  Annual  Exhibitions  and 
Trials  is  world-wide),  held  at  Liverpool,  commencing  July  11,  1877,  the  Society  offered 
a  PRIZE  for  the  BEST  AUTOMATIC  GRAIN-BINDER,  to  be  awarded  upon  a  com- 
petitive FIELD  TRIAL,  this  being  the  first  field  trial  of  Binders  for  a  prize  ever 
had  in  Europe.  "  \ 

After  a  two  days'  Field  Trial,  in  various  kinds  of  grain,  on  the  14th  and  17th 
of  August,  the 

Wiltif  1.  losi  iiiisf  ieseiiei  lie  Fiiil  ?riie 

over  all  competitors,  and  was  awarded  a  SILVER  MEDAL  by  the  Society,  being  the 
highest  and  only  Prize  given. 


IN   ADDITION  TO   THE   ABOVE, 

THE  SELF-BINDING  HARVESTER 

Has  already  been  awarded  in  Europe  alone : 

Gold  Medal  at  PRESTON,  June  15th,  1876. 
Special  Silver  Medal  at  CORK,  August  1st,  1876. 

Special  Silver  Medal  at  SOUTHPORT,  September  14th,  1876. 

Special  Silver  Medal  at  LONG  SUTTON,  Lincolnshire,  September 

20th,  1876; 
Gold  Medal  at  AYR  SHOW,  April  24th,  1877. 
Prize  of  50  Gulden,  near  ALKMAAR,  Holland,  Aug.  10th,  1877. 
Bronze  Medal  at  DOBELN,  Saxony,  September  8th,  1877. 
Large  Gold  Medal  of  the  Minister  of  Agriculture,  at  VITRY, 

France,  September  16th,  1877. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

630.15W85WA  C001 

„„_       THE  WALTER  A  WOOD  SELF-BINDING  HARVESTE 

#4 


3  0112  025314524 


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